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BRIDGENumber: 182 UK £3.95 Europe €5.00 February 2018

Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding QuizThis month we are dealing with hands where your opponents have bid your suit. You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and four-card majors.

NW E

S

1. Dealer South. Love All. ♠ 7 6 ♥ A Q J 6 5 4 3 ♦ 5 ♣ A 5 3

West North East South 1♥ ?

NW E

S

2. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ A K J 6 5 ♥ K 4 3 ♦ 7 6 ♣ Q 3 2

West North East South 1NT Pass 2♥1

? 1Transfer to spades

NW E

S

3. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ A K 8 7 ♥ A 9 8 7 6 ♦ A 2 ♣ 7 6

West North East South 1♥ Pass 1♠ ?

Answers on page 41

NW E

S

4. Dealer East. Love All. ♠ 7 6 ♥ A 3 2 ♦ A Q J 6 5 ♣ 7 6 5

West North East South 1♠ 2♦ ?

NW E

S

5. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ Q J 8 7 6 5 ♥ A 4 ♦ 7 6 ♣ 5 4 3

West North East South 1♠ Dbl Pass ?

NW E

S

6. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ 4 3 2 ♥ A J 8 7 6 5 ♦ 9 8 ♣ K 2

West North East South 1♥ 1♠ 1NT ?

Answers on page 43

NW E

S

7. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ 7 6 5 ♥ A 9 8 4 3 2 ♦ 10 6 ♣ 4 2

West North East South 1♥ 2♥1 Pass ? 1A two-suited hand: spades and a minor

NW E

S

8. Dealer East. Love All. ♠ 9 8 3 ♥ A Q 9 7 4 3 ♦ J 6 5 ♣ 2

West North East South 1♣ 1♥ Pass 1♠ 2♣ Pass ?

NW E

S

9. Dealer East. N/S Game. ♠ A Q J 5 ♥ A Q J 6 ♦ 9 3 2 ♣ 7 6

West North East South 1NT 2♣1

? 1Landy: both majors

Answers on page 45

NW E

S

10. Dealer South. Love All. ♠ 4 2 ♥ 7 6 ♦ A K 3 ♣ A Q J 6 5 3

West North East South 1♣1

? 1Strong club: 16+ points, any shape

NW E

S

11. Dealer North. N/S Game. ♠ 2 ♥ 4 3 ♦ K Q J 7 6 ♣ Q J 10 9 4

West North East South 2♣1 Pass 2♦2

? 1The strongest bid 2Negative

NW E

S

12. Dealer South. Love All. ♠ Q J 6 ♥ Q J 10 9 8 7 ♦ A 7 ♣ 4 2

West North East South 1♥ Pass 1NT Pass Pass ?

Answers on page 47

BRIDGE February 2018

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

2 The Aegean Experience & Alexandria with Voyages to Antiquity

3 Clive Goff ’s Stamps

4 Cruises 2018 on Columbus with Cruise & Maritime

6 Croatia 2018

8 Mr Bridge UK Events

12 Charity Events

13 Club Insurance

13 Travel Insurance

20 Bernard Magee DVDs Set 7

22 Bernard Magee DVDs Sets 1-3

23 Bernard Magee DVDs Sets 4-6

24 QPlus 12

25 Cruise the Danube to Vienna & Budapest with The River Cruise Line

29 Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified

41 Bernard Magee’s Tutorial Software

43 Declarer Play with Bernard Magee

44 Defence with Bernard Magee

45 Acol Bidding with Bernard Magee

50 Designs for Bridge Tables

51 Moorish Odyssey with Voyages to Antiquity

52 Swedish Waterways & Cities with Fred.Olsen

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BRIDGEFeatures this month include:

1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee 5 Mr Bridge

7 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee 9 When Should You Use Stayman? by Mike Lawrence 10 Gisborne’s Unlucky Guess by David Bird 12 Facsimile Packs by Paul Bostock 14 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions 16 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum 17 The Mr Bridge Christmas Quiz by Mike Orriel 17 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage 18 Grand Slam Opened at the Seven-Level – Part Two

by Shireen Mohandes 19 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett 20 The Mr Bridge Christmas Quiz Answers

by Mike Orriel 21 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage 22 Drawing Trumps by Bernard Magee 24 More Tips by Bernard Magee 29 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett 30 Adapting Your Style and System by Andrew Kambites 32 Adapting Your Style and System Quiz

by Andrew Kambites 33 The Future by Jeremy Dhondy 35 Answers to Adapting Your Style and System

by Andrew Kambites 36 Cross-Ruffing by Michael Byrne 38 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions 41 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee 42 Catching Up with Sally Brock 43 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee 44 Sally’s Slam Clinic 45 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee 46 What are Inverted Minor Raises?

by Julian Pottage 47 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee 48 Early Season Snow by John Barr 49 Seven Days by Sally Brock

REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGEPostage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, all mint with full gum.

Quotations for commercial quantities available on request.

Values supplied in 100s, higher values available as well as 1st and 2nd class (eg 2nd class: 100x38p+100x18p).

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AS PROMISED

Right at the end of my column last month was a stop press announcement. Congratulations to Helen and Bernard Magee on the birth of their son Alfred James Forrest Magee, weighing in at 7lb 14oz. He arrived on 6 December.

MASTERPOINTED

Responding to demand we are organising a few events during the coming year where masterpoints will be awarded to the winners.

The first two of these will be on mv. Columbus, see the adjacent advertisement. Gary Conrad will host the British Isles and Cities and Sandy Bell will host the European Cities cruise.

READERS LETTERS

Readers’ Letters as well as questions for Julian Pottage and David Stevenson are in short supply.

The following letter is pertinent, so do to give it a read. It may well solve the problem.

I recently wrote to David Stevenson with a question on bridge laws and was pleasantly surprised to receive a rapid personal reply to my query. I had thought that I would have to wait until my letter was published before receiving an answer. Similarly, a few weeks later, Julian Pottage kindly replied to me on a bidding question, again by return.

My reason for writing this letter, other than to say thank you, is that I recall your asking a few months ago for more questions, as not many had been forthcoming at the time. I was just thinking that if you were to make it clear in the magazine that all questions are answered personally and immediately, irrespective of whether or not they are published, then that might be a stimulus for a more regular supply of readers’ questions. This is just a suggestion which I hope you will accept in the spirit in which it is intended. Colin Jones, Kingston, Surrey.

SEE THE CENTREFOLD

Following the success of our river cruises last October, Bernard Magee and his team are once again sailing down the Danube.

To make a river cruise work, it is necessary to fill the whole ship with bridge players and their friends. This is because of the limited space given to lounges and bars on these otherwise delightful vessels. If you missed out last autumn, it is a must - do for this year. You should have a look.

All good wishes,

Mr Bridge

Set 843 TEAMS OF FOURThis form of the game is the most common at international level and is great fun to play at club level and even in the home. I will discuss the basic format and then look at the tactics you might use in the bidding and play.

44 GAME TRIESWhen your partner raises your suit to the two-level, you have a variety of options available to you, in order to find out whether game is a sensible option. I will talk about major suit game tries to find better games and minor suit game tries, when you consider the option of a no-trump contract.

45 DISRUPTING DECLARERA defender needs to try and predict what declarer might want to do. Your job is then to disrupt declarer’s plan. Stop him ruffing, stop him establishing suits and generally try to put him off, by using only your cards, of course.

46 DEFENDING SLAMSMaking the right plays against slams can make a huge difference. Knowing when to attack and when to lie low: should you lead an ace or not? We will not just consider slam contracts, but also other high level contracts in competitive auctions.

47 OVERCALLINGDuplicate bridge is so much more competitive now and it is important you are part of this. Knowing the reasons for overcalling and understanding them will allow you to compete more and at the right time.

48 PRESSING THE DEFENCEAs declarer there are ways you can make life more awkward for the defenders, particularly by disguising holdings in your hand for a little longer. I will be exploring a number of tactics that will help you to exploit the defenders, including the dreaded squeeze.

BERNARD MAGEE

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Coming Soon

1–15 May 2018 from £1499 sharingat Hotel Eden, Rovinj

1 – 8 May hosted by Bernard Magee. 8 – 15 May hosted by Will & Sylvia ParsonsOne week holidays available from £1139 per person sharing

Rovinj is situated on the western coast of Istria in Croatia, the largest peninsula on the Adriatic coastline, a one hour drive from Trieste, 2 ½ hours from Zagreb. Boasting a rich natural and cultural heritage with beautiful landmarks such as the old town, the Golden Cape Park Forest, protected islands and coastal area, Rovinj has many loyal visitors from all parts of the globe and has developed into a popular tourist destination. The climate is warm and semi-dry, there are 134 sunny days in a year, which makes Rovinj the third sunniest spot in the Adriatic.

Hotel Eden is wedged right between a peninsula covered by a one hundred year old park forest and a quiet cove. The old city centre of Rovinj is just a 20 minute walk away.

Call Mr Bridge on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.ukHalf board only, including flights from Gatwick. Birmingham, Manchester & Edinburgh flights may be available at a supplement.

Terms and conditions apply. These holidays have been organised for Mr Bridge by Great Little Escapes LLP, ATOL 5933. *Excursions are not included in the price of the holiday.

Bridge:Land based holidays allow time for a full bridge programme, which gives you the opportunity to enhance your bridge skills, but there is also time to both visit the local area and just sit back and relax. Over the fortnight the bridge programme includes four seminar & set hand sessions, duplicate bridge every evening, teams event and the ever popular bidding quiz. You can play as much or as little as you wish and the excursions* are fitted around the bridge programme to maximise your enjoyment.

Singles: There is a sole occupancy supplement of £12 per room per night. If you are a single bridge player please do not worry about being on your own. We will always be able to find you a partner and you can always have a game. As well as there being other singles in the same situation as yourself, there is the Mr Bridge team who will be happy to partner you if required.

Mr Bridge Holidays - Croatia 2018

Will & Sylvia Parsons

Bernard Magee

Croatia Advert - A4 v5 option 2.indd 1 05/12/2017 10:00


Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz

NW E

S

1. Dealer South. Love All. ♠ 7 6 ♥ A Q J 6 5 4 3 ♦ 5 ♣ A 5 3

West North East South 1♥ ?

NW E

S

2. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ A K J 6 5 ♥ K 4 3 ♦ 7 6 ♣ Q 3 2

West North East South 1NT Pass 2♥1

? 1Transfer to spades

NW E

S

3. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ A K 8 7 ♥ A 9 8 7 6 ♦ A 2 ♣ 7 6

West North East South 1♥ Pass 1♠ ?

My Answers:

1........................................

2........................................

3........................................

Answers on page 41

NW E

S

4. Dealer East. Love All. ♠ 7 6 ♥ A 3 2 ♦ A Q J 6 5 ♣ 7 6 5

West North East South 1♠ 2♦ ?

NW E

S

5. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ Q J 8 7 6 5 ♥ A 4 ♦ 7 6 ♣ 5 4 3

West North East South 1♠ Dbl Pass ?

NW E

S

6. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ 4 3 2 ♥ A J 8 7 6 5 ♦ 9 8 ♣ K 2

West North East South 1♥ 1♠ 1NT ?

My Answers:

4........................................

5........................................

6........................................

Answers on page 43

NW E

S

7. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ 7 6 5 ♥ A 9 8 4 3 2 ♦ 10 6 ♣ 4 2

West North East South 1♥ 2♥1 Pass ? 1A two-suited hand: spades and a minor

NW E

S

8. Dealer East. Love All. ♠ 9 8 3 ♥ A Q 9 7 4 3 ♦ J 6 5 ♣ 2

West North East South 1♣ 1♥ Pass 1♠ 2♣ Pass ?

NW E

S

9. Dealer East. N/S Game. ♠ A Q J 5 ♥ A Q J 6 ♦ 9 3 2 ♣ 7 6

West North East South 1NT 2♣1

? 1Landy: both majors

My Answers:

7........................................

8........................................

9........................................

Answers on page 45

NW E

S

10. Dealer South. Love All. ♠ 4 2 ♥ 7 6 ♦ A K 3 ♣ A Q J 6 5 3



NW E

S

11. Dealer North. N/S Game. ♠ 2 ♥ 4 3 ♦ K Q J 7 6 ♣ Q J 10 9 4

West North East South 2♣1 Pass 2♦2

? 1The strongest bid 2Negative

NW E

S

12. Dealer South. Love All. ♠ Q J 6 ♥ Q J 10 9 8 7 ♦ A 7 ♣ 4 2

West North East South 1♥ Pass 1NT Pass Pass ?

My Answers:

10 ......................................

11 ......................................

12 ......................................

Answers on page 47

This month we are dealing with hands where your opponents have bid your suit. You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and four-card majors.

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Inn on the PromSt Annes On Sea FY8 1LU

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Just DuplicateRamada Resort

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Please note there are no seminars, set hands or prizes at these events.

PROGRAMMEDAY 1

1500 Mr Bridge Welcome Desk open Tea or coffee on arrival

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2015 BRIDGE 1 DUPLICATE PAIRS

DAY 20800 to 0930

Breakfast

1000 to 1230 SEMINAR & PLAY of SET HANDS or DUPLICATE BRIDGE (Just Duplicate Events)

1230 to 1330 Cold Buffet Lunch

1400 to 1645 BRIDGE 2 TEAMS of FOUR (Bernard Magee Events) DUPLICATE PAIRS (otherwise)

1815 to 2000 Dinner

2015 BRIDGE 3 DUPLICATE PAIRS

DAY 30800 to 0930

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1000 to 1230 SEMINAR & PLAY of SET HANDS or DUPLICATE PAIRS (Just Duplicate Events)

1230 to 1400 Sunday Lunch (weekend events only)

1400 to 1645 BRIDGE 4 DUPLICATE PAIRS

Two Bridges HotelDartmoor PL20 6SW

Tutorial Events with Bernard Magee

Elstead Hotel23-25 February £252 4-4-4-1 Hands

Inn on the PromMon-Wed

5-7 March £252 Supporting Majors

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3-5 August £258 Competitive Bidding

Tutorial EventsDenham Grove

27-29 April £228 Finding Slams Hosted by John Ronan

20-22 July £228 Losing Trick Count

Ramada Resort Grantham

11-13 May £218 Stayman and Transfers Hosted by Elaine Duff

Elstead Hotel11-13 May £228 Leads and Defence Hosted by Hilary Levett

15-17 June £228 Stayman and Transfers Hosted by Sandy Bell

Chatsworth Hotel8-10 June £228 Further into the Auction Hosted by Will Parsons

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Thursday to Monday 15-19 February

Distributional Hands and Sacrificing

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*Price includes ferry fare for two adults in one car.

From £349

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This discussion starts off with an opening lead question. What does the question have to do

with responding to Stayman? Watch.Your RHO opens 1NT, 12-14, and

your LHO raises to 3NT. What is your opening lead?

♠ Q 8 7 6 3

♥ K 7 3

♦ 6 5 3

♣ 10 7

The world leads spades. You have a suit you can hope to set up and you have a possible entry in the king of hearts, which may be needed to get you in after setting up the spades.

If you answered with anything other than a spade, you started reading this article from the end, not the beginning. Now a different auction.

West North East South

1NT

Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥

Pass 3NT All Pass

What is your opening lead now?On the first auction, a spade lead

was automatic. On the new auction you know a lot more. What things do you know now that you did not know before?

1. You know that opener has four hearts.

2. You know that responder has four spades. Why would he ask for a major when he does not have one? A clever player might think it cute

to bid 2♣ when not holding a major but there are some serious dangers to doing that. On this auction, you can be pretty sure dummy has a four card major which, in this case, can only be spades.

3. Opener does not have four spades. If he did, he would bid them over 3NT.

4. Your partner did not double 2♣ for the lead. You have only five points so it is possible that your partner has some points, and if he had good clubs too, he might double for a club lead.

Do you see why the question of asking for a major is so far-reaching?

♠ K 9 5 4

♥ J 8 2

♦ A Q 8

♣ K 9 6

This is your hand, and your partner opens 1NT. I suggest that with a balanced shape, you should just raise to 3NT. You may miss a spade fit but given you are 4-3-3-3, finding a spade fit may not be useful. There are many hands where a no-trump contract is superior to playing in a 4-4 major suit fit and the symptoms usually start with responder having a balanced hand.

If, on this hand, you do bid 2♣, your partner bids hearts and you go on to 3NT. The opening leader has the hand I showed you above and now, having been warned that dummy has four spades, he may choose another lead. Here are all four hands.

NW E

S

♠ K 9 5 4

♥ J 8 2

♦ A Q 8

♣ K 9 6

♠ Q 8 7 6 3 ♠ J 2

♥ K 7 3 ♥ Q 9 4

♦ 6 5 3 ♦ J 10 9 7

♣ 10 7 ♣ A J 4 3

♠ A 10

♥ A 10 6 5

♦ K 4 2

♣ Q 8 5 2

Declarer starts with two spade winners, two heart winners eventually, three diamonds, and a club. Hands like this one often end up with nine tricks but often that is because of a bad lead. Here, if West leads a spade, South has three spade winners. That is a help for South. If West leads a heart, most unlikely, it gives up a trick too. The ten of clubs lead also gives South a trick. Only a diamond is safe. I am not saying that a diamond is right all of the time but I am pointing out some inferences that suggest diamonds are a consideration.

The point of this discussion is simple. When you have a balanced hand with no-trump values, raise your partner to 2NT or 3NT according to what you have. Do not bid Stayman unless you have a reason to think a major is better than no-trumps. Whenever you bid Stayman you are giving the opponents information which may well them to defend better.

This hand can be filed away under the heading ‘something to think about.’ ■

When Should You Use Stayman?

Fireside Chats with Mike Lawrence


Sergeant Woodruffe knocked on the door of Gisborne’s quarters. When no reply came, he entered

the room, noting that his superior officer was apparently still asleep.

‘My Lord?’ said the Sergeant.A bleary-eyed Gisborne raised

himself on one elbow. ‘How dare you wake me so early?’ he demanded.

‘It’s nine on the clock, my Lord,’ the Sergeant replied. ‘The Sheriff would speak with you.’

Gisborne threw off the bed cover and dressed quickly. ‘On what matter?’ he asked. ‘Was he in one of his bad moods?’

‘No worse than normal,’ came the reply.

‘You took your time,’ observed the Sheriff, as Gisborne entered his chambers. ‘A money-making opportunity has arisen. I’ve lined up a high-stake game with Roland Bloch and Edwynne de Rayne this afternoon.’

Gisborne, whose head was still throbbing from a heavy drinking session the previous night, looked back in alarm. ‘Could it not be tomorrow instead, my Lord?’ he replied. ‘I’m not feeling well today and they are strong players.’

‘You will be here at two, well or not,’ declared the Sheriff. ‘And let’s do without any of your usual mutterings of how-could-I-tell-my-Lord or it-was-an-unlucky-guess-my-Lord. We’ll be playing for big money.’

Gisborne returned to his quarters. There were only a few hours to sober up and such an encounter was not an enticing prospect. Not when you would be blamed for every losing deal.

Gisborne’s headache had scarcely improved by the time the game started. This was an early deal:

NW E

S

Dealer North. Love All.

♠ A

♥ A 9 7 6

♦ K 10 9 6 3

♣ Q 7 6

♠ Q J 10 7 ♠ 8 6 5 3 2

♥ 10 4 3 ♥ Q J 8

♦ A J ♦ 8 7 5 2

♣ K 8 5 4 ♣ 2

♠ K 9 4

♥ K 5 2

♦ Q 4

♣ A J 10 9 3


Guy of Edwynne The Roland

Gisborne de Rayne Sheriff Bloch

1♦ Pass 2♣

Pass 2♦ Pass 3NT

All Pass

Gisborne led the ♠Q, won in the dummy. Roland Bloch, a stout man who liked good food and plenty of it, paused to assess his prospects.

If the club finesse was right, he would have nine top tricks and time to set up at least one more from the diamond suit. What if he took an immediate club finesse and it lost? Gisborne would clear the spades and the game would go down.

It must be better to lead a low diamond from dummy. If the Sheriff held ♦A-x-x, he could not go in with the ace without setting up four diamond tricks, enough for the contract. If instead he played low, declarer could pocket a diamond trick. Then just four tricks from the club suit would give him the game.

When Bloch played a low diamond to his queen, Gisborne won with the ace and led back the ♠J. Declarer ducked and he continued with the ♠10 to the king.

Bloch led a second diamond towards dummy, intending to rise with the king and take the club finesse. ‘I’faith what a pleasing sight!’ he exclaimed, when the ♦J appeared on his left. He displayed his remaining cards. ‘Four

Gisborne’s Unlucky Guess

Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird


diamond tricks, two ace-kings and the club ace. The game is there.’

Gisborne’s arrangement with the Sheriff was that he would pay one quarter of any losses, the Sheriff covering the remainder. His earnings as commander of the castle’s soldiery were moderate and he had pleaded strongly for a share of just one tenth. The Sheriff had refused, claiming that Gisborne would then have no incentive to concentrate properly. Still, at least his Lordship would have no cause to blame him for the last deal. Bloch had just played it well.

On the very next deal, Roland Bloch had a chance to land the first rubber.

NW E

S

Dealer East. N/S Game.

♠ 2

♥ Q 7 5 4 3

♦ 10 9

♣ J 9 7 6 4

♠ 7 4 3 ♠ Q J 10 9 6 5

♥ A J 9 8 ♥ 10 6

♦ 5 4 ♦ Q J 8 7

♣ Q 10 8 3 ♣ 2

♠ A K 8

♥ K 2

♦ A K 6 3 2

♣ A K 5




2♠ 3NT

All Pass

The Sheriff opened with a Feeble Two and Bloch thumbed through his splen-did collection of honour cards. The Good Lord was indeed in a bounti-ful mood today. Gisborne was no star at the game and with any luck he and Edwynne should be able to line their pockets. ‘Three no-trumps,’ he said.

Gisborne could feel his headache worsening. He led the ♠7 and down went the dummy. Bloch won with the ♠K and continued with two top clubs, the Sheriff discarding the ♥6 on the second round. When a third round of clubs was played, Gisborne won with the queen and the Sheriff threw a spade.

Gisborne’s spade continuation was ducked by declarer, aiming to exhaust

West in the suit. Seeing no future in spades, the Sheriff then switched to the ♦Q.

Bloch won with the ace and liked his chances at this stage. He led the ♥K and Gisborne ducked to prevent the ♥Q becoming an entry to dummy’s club winners. These cards remained:

NW E

S

♠ —

♥ Q 7 5

♦ 10

♣ J 9

♠ 3 ♠ Q J 6

♥ A J 9 ♥ —

♦ 5 ♦ J 8 7

♣ 10 ♣ —

♠ A

♥ 2

♦ K 6 3 2

♣ —

Before playing another heart, the portly declarer cashed the ♠A and ♦K to remove West’s safe exit cards. He discarded a heart from dummy and then led the ♥2.

Gisborne was powerless. He won with the ♥A and had to concede the last three tricks to the entryless dummy. An overtrick had been made and the first rubber was at an end.

‘There was nothing I could do, my Lord,’ said Gisborne, aware that the Sheriff was glaring at him.

‘It was always there,’ agreed Roland Bloch, as he reached for his scorepad.

‘Shall we settle rubber by rubber or at the end?’ queried the white-haired Edwynne de Rayne.

‘At the end, at the end,’ grunted the Sheriff. ‘What happens on a diamond lead? Can you make it then?’

‘Let me see,’ Bloch replied. ‘I win and play ace-king and another club. Gisborne wins and plays another diamond. Yes, you’re right. A diamond lead beats it.’

Gisborne swallowed hard. ‘How could I tell, my Lord?’ he blurted. ‘I led the suit that you had bid.’

‘May the Saints preserve me from partners who follow rules intended for beginners!’ exclaimed the Sheriff. ‘Lead a diamond and he has no chance.’

The second rubber had reached

Game All when this big deal arose:

NW E

S

Dealer North. Game All.

♠ 7 2

♥ J 5

♦ A K 8 7 4 3

♣ A 7 5

♠ 8 6 ♠ 5 4

♥ K 9 8 4 ♥ Q 10 6 3

♦ Q 2 ♦ J 9 6 5

♣ Q 10 8 3 2 ♣ J 9 4

♠ A K Q J 10 9 3

♥ A 7 2

♦ 10

♣ K 6




1♦ Pass 2♠

Pass 3♦ Pass 3♠

Pass 4♠ Pass 4NT

Pass 5♥ Pass 5NT

Pass 6♦ Pass 7♠

All Pass

Gisborne’s head was throbbing painfully as he considered his opening lead. A vulnerable grand slam at these exalted stakes? If successful, it would cost him a fortnight’s pay. Now, leading away from an honour was very risky against a grand slam. Surely the Sheriff could not fault him for leading a safe trump.

Gisborne led the ♠8 and Bloch won in his hand. He crossed to the ♦A and ruffed a diamond with a high trump. He then led the ♠3 to dummy’s ♠7, both defenders following. West showed out when the ♦K was played but Bloch ruffed a fourth round of diamonds and returned to dummy with the ♣A. His heart losers had gone on the ♦K and ♦8. The slam was home.

The Sheriff rose to his feet, glaring at Gisborne. ‘You bone-headed buffoon!’ he cried. ‘A vulnerable grand slam and you lead the only card in your hand to let it through?’

‘It was an unlucky guess, my Lord,’ Gisborne replied. ‘I could hardly risk leading from a side-suit honour.’

‘The leather-brain still hasn’t realised it,’ thundered the Sheriff. ‘Lead the six of trumps, not the eight. How can he make it then?’ ■


Facsimile Packs A History of Playing Cards: Part Fourteen by Paul Bostock

Old playing cards are now rare, so that a specific and desirable pack may be very difficult or even impossible to buy (for instance if the only known ex-amples are in museums). Not surprisingly, such packs are often expensive.

Facsimiles and Reproductions? While these may sound second-best, the reality is that a copy is the only way to see some special packs, and might be good to have.

Our first example is a pack first made by Robert Morden in 1676. In this pack, each of the 52 cards shows a map of a county of England and Wales. Original seventeenth century maps are scarce, so this pack is of value to historians and geographers as well as to specialist play-ing-card collectors. In 2013 an original version of this pack sold at Sotheby’s for £15,000. I have in front of me a very finely made facsimile by Harry Margary made in 1972 (see right) and copies of this pack are still on sale at just over £10. This ena-bles me to enjoy these old maps just as they were intended – on a set of cards.

There are a number of contemporary packs around that feature older full length designs. One set, whose maker is not shown, is a very good reproduction of standard cards of around 1805 by James Hardy, a London cardmaker. The reproduction goes to the extent

of having a paper wrapper and a string tied around just as the originals had and the finish of the cards is convincing too. Modern players could use these cards to play games that were popular in the 1800s without worrying about the value of the cards.

A similar example – again featuring standard cards by Hardy – was produced by brewers William Bass & Co in 1977. This set was made to celebrate the Com-pany’s 200th anniversary. The cards are printed on modern stock, but it is a well made set and its booklet gives a short his-tory of playing-cards and instructions for playing some historically popular games.

US Games Systems have produced excellent copies of several early American decks, including an ‘illuminated’ set first

Ten of Diamonds – Map of Cornwall by Morden 1676. Reproduction sets by Harry Margary, 1972.

Illuminated King of Spades, Andrew Dougherty & Co., 1865.

Facsimile by US Games Systems Inc.

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Facsimile Packs A History of Playing Cards: Part Fourteen by Paul Bostock

made by Andrew Dougherty in 1865. Illuminated decks were made with gold in the ink. In the image shown, all the gold areas would have featured this special ink, and the result is a very satisfying rich and bright finish.

Simon Wintle, a contemporary card expert, has made cards in the old way using wooden blocks and stencils. While these are of great interest to collectors, they also have a practical use in filming. If people are seen playing cards in a period drama, directors want those cards to look right, and facsimiles allow that to happen without risking an historic and valuable set.

Many contemporary card makers have issued facsimiles. We have encountered some in previous articles, eg the fifteenth century German hunting deck and the sixteenth century Spanish deck, where originals would be impossible to own. The Fournier Museum has produced excellent versions of items in its collection, like its English hand-painted transformation pack and circular Indian Ganjifa cards. The French card maker B P Grimaud has similarly made a new version of a very early Cotta transformation pack of 1804, and examples of French packs from earlier centuries.

Some collectors feel that facsimiles risk devaluing the originals but I think the production of a facsimile underlines the importance of the original. So from ancient geographical and other illustrated cards, via old standard cards and transformations, the modern enthusiast can truly become involved in historic sets of cards that would otherwise be priced out of reach.

There is now a wide selection of facsimile packs (see below for some examples) – an opportunity to own copies of historically significant cards. ■

The author is a Court Assistant in the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards – see www.makersofplayingcards.co.uk. Many more sets of cards are illustrated on the author’s website www.plainbacks.com

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QWest opened 1NT (announced as 15-18). North

passed. East passed after a long hesitation. South then bid 2♦ (not alerted). This bid was passed out. At this stage South told East/West that the 2♦ bid was artificial showing the majors. North admitted he had forgotten the convention. West then stated that he had been misled and would have bid differently if he had been aware of the true meaning of the 2♦ bid.

The director was called and after some consideration ruled that the bidding should be rewound to the point where South bid 2♦. This was done and West promptly doubled the 2♦ bid. North objected that the double could be based on the long pause by East. The director was recalled and decided that the board should be averaged, to rectify a situation that was tending to become heated.

How should the director have ruled?Alan Mansell,Milford-on-Sea BC.

A First the director should stop the players talking. Some

damage has already been done by West’s remarks, and he should be warned that, in future, if he has a problem

he calls the director, but does not tell people what he might have done otherwise, which is unauthorised information to partner and gains nothing. One of the things that players in clubs must learn is to call the director when there is a problem, not to discuss it before he arrives.

The director presumably gave the ruling without opening his law book since he cannot rewind the auction any further than the last call by the non-offending side, that is East’s final call. He must warn East that he must make every effort to avoid taking any advantage of West’s unfortunate comments.

The board should then be played out, either in 2♦, or in whatever is reached if East does decide to change his final pass.

At the end of the hand, the director should consider whether to give an adjusted score in N/S’s favour if he felt that any of East’s actions took advantage of the unauthorised information and harmed N/S. Also he should consider whether to give an adjusted score in East-West’s favour if he considers that the misinformation (the failure to alert 2♦, and the failure for West to get an explanation) affected West’s pass over 2♦. That is complicated by East’s slow pass on the first

round which is unauthorised information to West. It is unusual for a 1NT opener to bid again when his partner has passed, and especially strange that he would bid over a 2♦ bid showing the majors but not a natural 2♦, and I do feel that North’s comments have some substance.

In the actual case where the director wound it back to 2♦ the final ruling should be based on the director’s error, and the final score adjusted on this basis: at such time both sides are treated as non-offending, which means both sides might get a good score, but of course the unauthorised information complicates it. As for averaging the board that is just illegal, and will have disadvantaged one side or the other, and just possibly both sides.

♣♦♥♠

QI had a question from an experienced club member and

wanted your advice.In the auction: 1 of a suit

– (Pass) – 1 of another suit – (Pass) – 1NT, I was asked, ‘If opener will normally make the 1NT rebid even with a void in partner’s suit, is it alertable?‘

My reading of the EBU Blue Book section 4C1(b)

says this is to be regarded as natural – he has shown a preparedness to play in no-trumps, and may have an agreed shortage (the suit partner has got covered).

Am I correct?Name and address supplied.

A I believe this is alertable. I agree that your

reading might be correct, but it also says ‘conveys no unusual information about suit holdings’ and while it is accepted that a shortage in partner’s suit is possible, this is normally understood to mean a singleton. A void in partner’s suit I think is unusual.

I do agree that this is ambiguous, but the general rule is When in doubt, alert.

♣♦♥♠

QLast week at South Bucks Bridge Club this came up:


1♥ 2♦ 1NT

The director was called. He ruled that South could accept the insufficient bid, but South didn’t, and that East could put it right by bidding 2NT, which she did.I understood that only parallel bids are allowed. I do not believe that 2NT

David Stevenson Answers Your Questions on Laws and Ethics

Convention Not Alerted


(10-12 points) is a parallel bid, as it has a different meaning from 1NT (6-9/10). It would seem the only possible bid in this sequence is a Pass from East, with West restricted from rebidding?Perhaps I have misunderstood, so I have today ordered the new ‘Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified‘ from Mr Bridge.Susan Hegi by email.

AWhile you are right that insufficient bids may be accepted

and otherwise that if a player makes a Comparable Call instead, the auction continues without penalty, there is another rule. If the insufficient bid was natural, and the lowest sufficient bid in the same denomination (in no-trumps or the same suit) would be natural, the player can change it to that bid without penalty.

Since 1NT was natural, and assuming 2NT would be natural, it was correct that it could be changed to 2NT without penalty and the auction continue normally.

♣♦♥♠

QPlease could you give me your view on the following

hand where I was North:

NW E

S

♠ A

♥ A K 9 7

♦ A K Q 2

♣ 9 6 4 3

♠ Q 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 ♠ K J 7

♥ Void ♥ Q J 10 8

♦ J ♦ 10 9 6 4

♣ A K J 10 ♣ Q 2

♠ 9

♥ 6 5 4 3 2

♦ 8 7 5 3

♣ 8 7 5


3♠1 Dbl All Pass1Explained as weak.

My partner admitted that he made a mistake in passing the take-out double. During the play, more and more points kept appearing from West. At the end of play I asked for a director’s ruling as to whether there had been misinformation – had I known that West was strong I might have overcalled 4♥ or 4♦ rather than doubling for take-out as I would have realised that my partner might be very weak. E/W made an unstoppable 11 tricks for a top. The director adjusted the score to 4♠+1 undoubled which I thought was fair. But on reflection I’m not sure this was correct. Was there misinformation?Graham Evans,Winwick, Cambs.

A It is doubtful, and there is no doubt the actual result was

your partner’s fault passing a take-out double with five hearts and no points.

Even if there was misinformation I do wonder whether the result would be different, since if they play 3♠ as somewhat stronger, your take-out double is routine and there is no reason for your partner to pass it.

There is no way I can tell whether there was misinformation or not without talking to the players. It is quite possible this pair do play 3♠ as weak but West decided to open it anyway. It is a fact that a growing number of less experienced players seem to take fright at the idea of opening at the one level with a seven plus card suit and look for an alternative. If that is what has happened here, then it is poor bridge but not

illegal and on a different day all that would have happened is that E/W would have missed a game.

If they do play 3♠ as intermediate, a very rare treatment, then you have been misinformed and an adjustment is possible. But it is unlikely and the adjustment is not clear.

♣♦♥♠

QI was declarer and incorrectly called for a lead from

dummy. RHO said, ‘it‘s your lead,‘ so I led a card from my hand whereupon LHO said, ‘I accept the lead from dummy.‘ This was referred to an experienced director who ruled that LHO was within his rights and the original lead from dummy had to be played. I had presumed the words, ‘it’s your lead.‘ amounted to a rejection of the lead from dummy. Are we in a position where declarer has to ask the defence if the irregular lead is accepted or rejected?Mike Scarffe,Farnhill, North Yorks.

A The law states unambiguously that when attention is

drawn to an irregularity, which is what RHO has done, all four players are required to call the director and take no action until he arrives. Thus everyone at the table is clearly in the wrong and that is the way arguments occur. The best way to avoid arguments is to call the director and leave it to him.

Once LHO has said he accepts the lead from dummy, the lead is accepted and the director ruled correctly.

QMy regular partner and I recently made some

changes to opening twos. We used to play weak twos in diamonds, hearts and spades, but now play 2♦ as eight playing tricks in an unspecified suit.

Twice in consecutive weeks my partner has forgotten this and opened 2♦ with a weak hand.

Last night I announced his 2♦ opening as strong, but since I held ♠K Q 10 9 x x ♥A x ♦x x x ♣A x, I was bid-ding anyway. So 2♠ it was and partner bid 3♦, which could still be strong with diamonds, in which case I am sniffing slam, so I bid 3♠, passed out and made.

Now should one of us reveal a misbid/misexpla-nation before the opening lead is made? All will be revealed when dummy goes down, but it just might affect the lead. Any thoughts?Mike Brotherton, North Wales.

A There is no necessity to tell opponents about a mistake so

long as the system has been explained correctly. So you were right to say nothing.

But there is a snag. Now your partner has got it wrong three times, it is really becoming part of your system, and that should be disclosed. So in future you really need to tell opponents that you are playing 2♦ as eight playing tricks in an unspecified suit, but that partner has a habit of forgetting and you used to play 2♦ as weak.

Once you are confident he will no longer do so you can revert to the simple explanation. ■

E-mail your questions on bridge laws to: [email protected]


A ware of the rather tenuous connection of Verona with William Shakespeare, Spouse

and I decided that an excursion to the historic town was, nevertheless, still well worth a visit. We began by explor-ing the Roman amphitheatre, now an open-air opera house. Outside in the large central square, we lunched in the elegant surroundings of delightful res-taurants and cafés, which provided a wide range of delicacies at surprisingly reasonable prices. A stroll through the town past charming churches, the ancient castle and the tourist-packed courtyard containing a balcony typi-cal of the period in the Bard’s play Romeo and Juliet.

Back in the hotel later, Millie and I decided to go for some retail therapy, and I arranged to meet Spouse afterwards in the bar by the swimming pool. I arrived to find him in conversation with Henry and Happy Hattie, Millie’s nemesis, given the designation due to Hattie’s rather strident outlook at the bridge table. Spouse may have been missing real ale, but he was certainly cheerful enough on free Italian lager. His companions were very friendly and Hattie showed no signs of the aggression she was capable of displaying over the green baize. Over the years, I have often noticed that in unfamiliar surroundings bridge players can seem very different from their card room persona. Millie whispered, ‘Is this the same Hattie? She has such a sharp tongue, I’m sure she could use it to strip wallpaper.’

Millie was playing with Justin that evening in the duplicate pairs. Spouse and I found ourselves at a half table, and the TD suggested we joined the teams event, which was a pair short. Spouse was pleased when we were linked with his new buddies, Henry and Hattie; I was less sure having witnessed their dispute with Millie the

other evening. I needn’t have worried, it turned out to be a pleasant session. Differing styles of hand valuation proved a diversion on this board.

NW E

S

Dealer East. North-South Game.

♠ J 9 8 4 3 2

♥ 10 7

♦ K 4

♣ Q 6 5

♠ K Q 5 ♠ 10 7 6

♥ 8 5 ♥ K Q 9 6 4 2

♦ A J 8 7 6 ♦ 3 2

♣ J 10 2 ♣ 7 4

♠ A

♥ A J 3

♦ Q 10 9 5

♣ A K 9 8 3

East opened a weak two in hearts, and I found myself with a problem. I didn’t want to pass, but I wasn’t sure what to do. If I doubled, Spouse would almost certainly bid spades, and three clubs seemed rather insipid. In this position, Spouse and I use a natural 16-18 two no-trumps, over which, in this instance, three hearts would be forcing but other three level bids natural and non-forcing. I knew the distribution was wrong, but I had a certain spade stop and possibly two stops in hearts. So two no-trumps it was. West passed and, of course, partner bid three spades. I should have guessed. I was sure West would lead a heart and it was teams scoring, so in for a penny in for a pound. I converted to three no-trumps on the dubious justification that I held maximum values for my overcall.


Spouse Wendy

2♥1 2NT

Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT

All Pass 1Weak two, 5-9 HCP, 6-card suit.

West led the eight of hearts. I ducked in dummy and after some thought East played the queen which I won with the ace. I led the diamond five towards dummy and played the king, which held the trick. With the ten and nine of diamonds in hand it seemed safe to play the diamond four from dummy on which I placed the nine, won by West with the jack. West exited with his last heart, won with the king by East who then exited meekly with a heart, which was won in hand with my jack. I now led the diamond queen, taken by West’s ace. With three tricks already in the bag I now had five clubs to take as well as the ace of spades and the master diamond for a total of ten tricks.

At the other table North-South were playing a version of Precision Club. Hattie and Henry took no part in the auction from the East-West seats. South opened one club, artificial and strong. North bid two spades, a weak bid showing six spades. South made a try with three clubs passed out by North.


Hattie Henry

Pass 1♣1

Pass 2♠2 Pass 3♣

All Pass 1Artificial, strong club. 2Weak.

Hattie led the jack of clubs and the contract made with an overtrick, a lucky but happy swing for our team. It turned out to be an extremely pleasant evening. Justin and Millie joined the four of us for drinks later. Rather like the rival families of Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeare’s drama, perhaps we take our petty prejudices too seriously, not realising that in the real world we have many interests and beliefs in common. The Bard may not have played bridge, but he certainly understood relationships. ■

The Diaries of Wendy WensumEpisode 70: An Italian Jaunt Part 3: The Peace Treaty

Spouse and I are on holiday in the resort of Limone on the shores of Lake Garda with friends, Millie and Justin.


DEFENCE QUIZby Julian Pottage

(Answers on page 21)

You are East in the defensive positions below playing matchpoint pairs with only N/S vulnerable. Both sides are

using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman.

NW E

S

1. ♠ J 10 8 ♥ K 9 8 5 2 ♦ A K 9 6 3 ♣ Void ♠ K 9 3 ♥ A 10 4 3 ♦ 7 4 2 ♣ 9 8 2

West North East South 1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass 2♦ Pass 4♦ Pass 4♠1

Pass 6♦ All Pass 1Cue bid

Partner leads the ♠6, cov-ered by the ♠10. What is your plan?

NW E

S

2. ♠ A Q J 6 2 ♥ J 10 6 ♦ Q ♣ Q J 10 7 ♠ 9 4 3 ♥ 8 7 5 2 ♦ A 10 8 ♣ K 6 2

West North East South 1NT Pass 2♥1 Pass 2♠ Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass1Transfer to spades

Partner leads the ♦4. What is your plan?

NW E

S

3. ♠ A Q 8 3 ♥ 9 7 6 ♦ K J 10 6 ♣ Q 2 ♠ 5 4 2 ♥ A 4 3 ♦ 9 3 ♣ K J 8 7 5


Pass 2♦1 Pass 2♥ Pass 3♥ Pass 4NT Pass 5♦ Pass 6♥ All Pass1Near game force and relay

Partner leads the ♣10, cov-ered all around. Declarer cashes the ♦A, overtakes the ♦Q with the ♦K and leads another diamond, partner playing upward. What is your plan?

NW E

S

4. ♠ Q 8 7 6 ♥ 8 6 5 3 ♦ A J ♣ Q J 5 ♠ A 9 3 ♥ Q J 4 2 ♦ Q 6 5 ♣ 10 8 4

West North East South Pass 1NT All Pass

Partner leads the ♦2. You capture the ♦J with the ♦Q and return the suit, partner playing the ♦8. Declarer leads the ♠K followed (if you duck) by the ♠J, part-ner playing the ♠2 and ♠10. What do you do?

MR BRIDGE CHRISTMAS QUIZ 2017

Set by Mike Orriel

CARDS 1 Which card baked some tarts and which card stole them?

2 Which card is known as ‘the curse of Scotland’?

3 Which card game contains two alcoholic drinks?

4 In which card game are the ♦3 and ♥3 important cards?

SCORES 5 What are the only two making contracts

whose duplicate score is exactly 2,000?

6 How many doubled vulnerable undertricks will score a penalty of exactly 2,000?

7 In teams of four, how many IMPs is a net score of +2,000 on one hand?

8 Exactly 2,000 masterpoints would represent which masterpoint rank in England?

ODD ONE OUT (Which is the odd one out in each case?)

9 Green, purple, orange, red, blue

10 Pink, black, blue, green, gold

11 170, 270, 370, 470, 570

ANAGRAMS on a ‘BRIDGE’ theme. 12 CUP DETAIL 13 BLUER ODE

14 NEUTRON MAT 15 BELL SHONE

MISCELLANEOUS 16 What is ‘the rule of eleven’ when defending?

17 Which windy city is a form of bridge?

18 What does the mnemonic SAYC stand for?

19 What are the odds against being dealt a Yarborough?

20 You are West and hold the hand below. What should you lead?

Dealer East. ♠ 8 7 ♥ K 7 6 2 ♦ K Q 10 2 ♣ 8 7 4

NW E

S

West North East South 1♥ 7♠ Pass Pass Dbl Rdbl All Pass

Answers on page 20.


We all know that bidding a Grand Slam is not an every-day matter. But how often

do you hear about an opening bid at the Grand Slam level? And how often does this happen at rubber bridge?

London player Andy Bowles told me about this deal, which took place at The London School of Bridge in Kings Road, in the 1980s. ‘I remember Gerald Bridgeman opening at the seven-level, at rubber bridge (not a goulash) on something like:

♠ A K Q x x

♥ Void

♦ Void

♣ A K Q x x x x x

It made. By the time he’d bought everyone in the room a drink, I think he’d made a small loss.’

As we all know, rubber bridge is played much less often these days. But in the 60s, 70s and 80s, the great masters of the game, Jeremy Flint, Jonathan Cansino, John Collings and Irving Rose, were all to be found in

Grand Slam Opened at the Seven-LevelPart Two by Shireen Mohandes

A substantial sum of money was to be won or lost on the deal, along with a story to dine out on for weeks to come.

Imagine you are sitting West. What are your thoughts? First you must respect your partner and your RHO. Jeremy Flint (1928-1989) was, at the time, one of the best players in the country, having either won or been second in the Gold Cup eight times and later going on to win a silver medal at the Bermuda Bowl in 1987. Flint was also a successful high-stake rubber bridge player.

So, back to the deal, is Flint punting the grand? What’s Barry up to? Is he trying to attract a non-trump lead? Surely the most likely situation is that Flint has a two-suiter, and Barry is void in one suit. Of course, Flint knows the situation too, so maybe Flint’s second suit is at most a four or five bagger (as he did not run to that suit when doubled)? Maybe Flint just likes redoubling? Perhaps it’s a long-term strategy of his, that may not work out well on this deal, but long term, he is quids in. Looking at the arithmetic: Remember 150 honours implied, but not guaranteed, by the auction.

7♣ doubled making (140x2)+1,500+50+150+700 = 2,680 7♣ redoubled making (140x4)+1,500+50*+150+700= 2,960 7♣ doubled defeated by 1 +150-200 = -507♣ redoubled defeated by 1 +150-400 = -250 *Note that the redouble insult bonus was not changed to 100 yet; that was introduced in the 1987 law changes.

Have you selected your lead, before reading on?

London clubs, principally St James’s (now called TGR). I’m reliably told that duplicate bridge at a club was not of much interest to these players.

This story was told to me by London player Barry Myers. Barry is one of the rare former professional bridge players who gave up rubber bridge and turned to study, leading to a successful career in law. You will, of course, be familiar with his name, as he is frequently mentioned in Sally Brock’s columns.

1983, Rubber Bridge, St James’s Bridge Club, London.

NW E

S

Stakes £3 per 100. Dealer East. N/S Vul.

♠ J x x

♥ x x x

♦ A K J x x

♣ x x


Tony Salmon Mond Barry Myers Jeremy Flint

Pass 7♣

Pass Pass Dbl Rdbl

All Pass

Jeremy Flint (England) and Peter Pender (USA). Photo: ACBL


NW E

S

1. ♠ K 6 5

♥ J 10

♦ K Q 7 4 3 2

♣ 5 3

♠ A Q 4

♥ A K 2

♦ 6 5

♣ Q J 9 6 4

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the ♥7. The ♥J wins. How do you plan the play?

NW E

S

2. ♠ A 10 7

♥ Q 6 4

♦ 5 4 2

♣ A J 6 2

♠ K Q J 9 8 2

♥ 7

♦ K Q 7 6

♣ Q 5

You are declarer in 4♠ after West opens 1♥ and East raises to 2♥. West leads the ♥K (for count) and switches to a low trump. How do you plan the play?

NW E

S

3. ♠ A 7 6

♥ K 6 5

♦ 10 9 5

♣ A 8 6 4

♠ J 5 2

♥ A 9 2

♦ K Q J 6 2

♣ K 5

You are declarer in 3NT after West opened 1♠. West leads the ♠10. How do you plan the play?

NW E

S

4. ♠ K 9 8 2

♥ K Q 5

♦ 7 6 4

♣ A K 2

♠ A Q J 10 7 5

♥ 3

♦ K 8

♣ 8 7 6 4

You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads the ♥J. How do you plan the play?

DECLARER

PLAY

QUIZby David Huggett

(Answers on page 29)

You are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. In each case, what is your play strategy?

American Charles Goren wrote in Sports Illustrated, in June, 1966, of Flint’s trip to the USA to compete in bridge events with American Peter Pender: ‘A 37-year-old handsome blond six-footer from England is now at the halfway point of his six-month assault on the American world of bridge, and the results thus far are impressive.’ Later on in the column Goren added: ‘Unfortunately for Flint, what little publicity their victories have received has gone primarily to Pender because, as an American, he is better known here. In addition, Flint is handicapped as a lecturer by a British accent that many Americans find more difficult to understand than the Russian accent that was such an asset to Ely Culbertson.‘

If you defeat the redoubled contract, it is worth £96 in 1983, that’s around £300 in 2017.

From Flint’s perspective, his bonus for making was 280, his increased penalty for being defeated was 200. So the odds were attractive to redouble.

The full deal:

NW E

S

Dealer East. N/S Vul.

♠ A K Q 10 x

♥ J x x x x x

♦ x x

♣ Void

♠ J x x ♠ x x x x x

♥ x x x ♥ Void

♦ A K J x x ♦ Q x x x x x

♣ x x ♣ x x

♠ Void

♥ A K Q 10

♦ Void

♣ A K Q J 10 x x x x

West did not find the heart lead. Should he have? I think the hints are there. Declarer’s second suit is either long, or strong. So possession of the ♠J just tips the scales in favour of leading a heart.

As it happens, Flint’s partner could have rescued the day by bidding 7♥. But that is not the sort of thing that one does. It would be mad, inspired, and dangerous. Like some sort of contemporary Japanese film of the 1980s? ■

Sally Brock and Barry Myers (photo: Peter Hasenson)


Set 737 MORE SIGNALLINGI will be looking at different times when you signal and the messages you might want to give. Using signals in new ways can greatly improve your enjoyment of defence as well as pushing up your scores.

38 4-4-4-1 HANDSEverybody’s least favourite type of opening hand. I will be going through the methods for choosing the right suit to open as well as coping with responses. As responder you need to be aware of the options and work out your partner’s type of hand. Strong 4-4-4-1 hands can be just as difficult and will be dealt with too.

39 DRAWING TRUMPSThis seminar sounds straightforward, but we will not be simply drawing trumps, we will be considering the reasons for delaying. Keeping control of trumps is an important part of declarer play. Knowing when to risk leaving trumps out and when not.

40 FIVE-CARD MAJORSPopular around the world, this method is becoming more popular here. It is not a method I would advocate for club players, however it is important to understand the method as you will need to defend against it.

41 FUNDAMENTALS OF DEFENCEDefence is by far the hardest aspect of bridge: this seminar seeks to show the building blocks that can start you off on a wonderful journey. If you can get the basics right then the more complicated aspects of defence can follow.

42 SUPPORTING MINORSMinors are not as important as majors, but we have to bid them and it is important to know your system. Bidding more 3NT contracts will get you better scores, but being able to spot a minor suit slam will put you a cut above.

BERNARD MAGEE

TUTORIAL DVDS

Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop

£25 per DVD or £105 for the set of six

MR BRIDGE CHRISTMAS QUIZ 2017 ANSWERS

Set by Mike Orriel

1 Queen of hearts baked, Jack of hearts stole

2 Nine of diamonds

3 Gin rummy

4 Canasta

5 5♥ redoubled or 5♠ redoubled, vulnerable with two overtricks.

6 Seven vulnerable undertricks.

7 19 IMPs.

8 District master.

9 Purple (the others are the colours of the suits in a bidding box).

10 Pink (the others are all types of master points).

11 370 (not a possible score at duplicate, all the others are).

12 DUPLICATE.

13 REDOUBLE.

14 TOURNAMENT.

15 LEBENSOHL.

16 Rule of eleven enables a defender to work out from his partner’s lead of fourth highest how many cards declarer has higher than the card led. The defender subtracts from 11 the value of the card led.

17 Chicago.

18 Standard American Yellow Card.

19 About 1827 to 1 (0.0547%) – ref Bridge players encyclopaedia.

20 A club; South clearly has solid spades, no hearts, either the ♦A or no diamonds, and solid clubs. The only hope is that East is void in clubs and can ruff your opening lead. (Lightner double). PS Hand is from a Camrose trial and no-one got it right.

Joint Winners with 20/20: Dave Simmons, Buntingford, Herts, Elaine Sharpe, Malmesbury, Wilts.

Runners Up with 18/20: Raymond Hunter, Queen Camel, Somerset, Patricia Arthur, Wirral, Merseyside, Hilary Kirkland, Ravenshead, Notts.


Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 17

NW E

S

1. ♠ J 10 8

♥ K 9 8 5 2

♦ A K 9 6 3

♣ Void

♠ 7 6 5 4 2 ♠ K 9 3

♥ Q 6 ♥ A 10 4 3

♦ 8 ♦ 7 4 2

♣ J 7 6 4 3 ♣ 9 8 2

♠ A Q

♥ J 7

♦ Q J 10 5

♣ A K Q 10 5


1♣

Pass 1♥ Pass 2♦

Pass 4♦ Pass 4♠1

Pass 6♦ All Pass 1Cue bid

Partner leads the ♠6, covered by the ♠10. What is your plan?

An inspection of the spot cards in spades should tell you what to do. If the ♠6 were fourth best, South would have none higher – clearly impossible. It must be second highest from a poor suit, in which case you should duck, keeping declarer to two spade tricks.

Later you will refrain from discarding a spade. You will of course use the ♥A to capture the ♥K.

NW E

S

2. ♠ A Q J 6 2

♥ J 10 6

♦ Q

♣ Q J 10 7

♠ 8 7 5 ♠ 9 4 3

♥ 9 4 ♥ 8 7 5 2

♦ K 9 6 4 2 ♦ A 10 8

♣ A 9 3 ♣ K 6 2

♠ K 10

♥ A K Q 3

♦ J 7 5 3

♣ 8 5 4


1NT

Pass 2♥1 Pass 2♠

Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥

Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠

All Pass1Transfer to spades

Partner leads the ♦4. What is your plan?South’s 3♥ must show good hearts and

weak diamonds. Despite the shortage in dummy, you should take the ♦A and return the suit, shortening dummy’s trumps.

To keep up the good work you should place partner with the ♣A (else your ♣K is dead) and later win the first round of clubs. You can then continue the forcing game. When in with the ♣A, partner can play a fourth diamond.

NW E

S

3. ♠ A Q 8 3

♥ 9 7 6

♦ K J 10 6

♣ Q 2

♠ 9 7 6 ♠ 5 4 2

♥ 10 ♥ A 4 3

♦ 8 7 5 4 2 ♦ 9 3

♣ 10 9 6 4 ♣ K J 8 7 5

♠ K J 10

♥ K Q J 8 5 2

♦ A Q

♣ A 3


2♣1

Pass 2♦1 Pass 2♥

Pass 3♥ Pass 4NT

Pass 5♦ Pass 6♥

All Pass1Near game force and relay

Partner leads the ♣10, covered all around. Declarer cashes the ♦A, overtakes the ♦Q with the ♦K and leads another diamond, partner playing upward. What is your plan?

Why is declarer playing diamonds before trumps? With a club loser exposed, declarer’s plan is to discard a club on a diamond. Although declarer can surely overruff, you must ruff low, preventing the discard. Moreover if dummy regains the lead with a spade and leads a fourth diamond, you must ruff low again, for the same reason. Finally, if your opponent tries to cash a fourth round of spades, you do not ruff with the ♥A; instead you leave partner to ruff low.

NW E

S

4. ♠ Q 8 7 6

♥ 8 6 5 3

♦ A J

♣ Q J 5

♠ 10 4 2 ♠ A 9 3

♥ A 9 7 ♥ Q J 4 2

♦ K 10 8 2 ♦ Q 6 5

♣ 7 6 3 ♣ 10 8 4

♠ K J 5

♥ K 10

♦ 9 7 4 3

♣ A K 9 2


1NT

All Pass

Partner leads the ♦2. You capture the ♦J with the ♦Q and return the suit, partner playing the ♦8. Declarer leads the ♠K followed (if you duck) by the ♠J, partner playing the ♠2 and ♠10. What do you do?

While you could hold up the ♠A for a second time, declarer can surely force an entry to dummy in clubs, limiting the upside. Can you see a downside to ducking the second spade? If partner has the ♥A, point count tells you the clubs are running and you might not get the chance to take the ♠A until it is too late.

Indeed, if you read the ♠10 on the sec-ond round as a suit-preference signal, you do place partner with the ♥A. So take the ♠A and switch to the ♥Q. ■


The focus of this DVD is on declarer play in trump contracts and

in particular how to deal with the trump suit. The first slide cuts straight to the point:

It is usually correct to draw trumps as soon as pos-sible. Only delay if you have a good reason.

Here is a classic exam-ple where an inexperienced player is prone to delaying trumps:

NW E

S

♠ 9 3 2

♥ 9 8 7 4

♦ A K

♣ K J 10 4

♠ Q 8 7 6 5

♥ A K

♦ 8 7 6

♣ A Q 2

4♠ by South.

West leads the ♣7.

You have eight tricks outside the trump suit: once trumps are drawn you will make your tricks easily enough. You pretty much expect to lose three trump tricks, but if you delay drawing

Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Thirty-Nine

Drawing Trumpstrumps, you may lose even more by allowing the oppo-nents to score ruffs. You do best to lead trumps from the North hand so win with the ♣10 and lead a trump to the queen.

NW E

S

♠ 9 3 2

♥ 9 8 7 4

♦ A K

♣ K J 10 4

♠ A 4 ♠ K J 10

♥ Q 10 6 5 3 2 ♥ J

♦ J 9 4 3 ♦ Q 10 5 2

♣ 7 ♣ 9 8 6 5 3

♠ Q 8 7 6 5

♥ A K

♦ 8 7 6

♣ A Q 2

West wins with his ace, but when you regain the lead, you play a second trump and only lose three trump tricks in total. As you can see, if you delay drawing trumps you might allow your opponents to score ruffs in hearts and clubs and thereby score more than three trump tricks. Having bad trumps is not a good enough excuse for delaying drawing trumps.

The DVD deals with de-laying drawing trumps for a variety of reasons, but at the start it is to do with

handling the trump suit. For example if you want to lead trumps from a par-ticular hand (as you saw on the previous hand – plan-ning to lead from dummy). Sometimes you have to give up the lead to reach a hand – the risk may well be worth it, in order to take a finesse.

Then, there are the three main reasons for delaying drawing trumps:

l Scoring ruffs in the short trump hand

l Discarding losersl Using entries

Here is a simple example:

NW E

S

♠ A 6 5

♥ 8 3

♦ 9 8 6 3

♣ A K 6 2

♠ K Q J 8 4

♥ A 6 4

♦ A 4

♣ 8 7 4

4♠ by South

West leads the ♦K.

Assuming the spades break reasonably you have nine top tricks and are look-

SET 1 1 Ruffing for

Extra Tricks

2 Competitive Auctions

3 Making the Most of High Cards

4 Identifying & Bidding Slams

5 Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts

6 Doubling & Defence against Doubled Contracts

SET 2 7 Leads

8 Losing Trick Count

9 Making a Plan as Declarer

10 Responding to 1NT

11 Signals & Discards

12 Endplay

SET 3 13 Hand Evaluation

14 Pre-Emptive Bidding

15 Splinter & Cue Bids

16 Avoidance Play

17 Play & Defence at Pairs

18 Thinking Defence

BERNARD MAGEE

TUTORIAL DVDS

Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961

www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop

£25 per DVD

£105 set of 6


Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Thirty-Nine

Drawing Trumpsare mentioned: leaving the master trump out, ducking an early round of trumps or throwing a loser on a loser.

Here is a hand to try your luck with:

NW E

S

♠ 7 5 4

♥ K Q 2

♦ 4

♣ A K Q 7 6 5

♠ A K Q 6

♥ 5 4

♦ 9 7 6 5

♣ J 3 2

Playing matchpoint pairs you finish in the imagina-tive contract of 4♠ on the lead of ♦A followed by the ♦K. 5♣ is a better contract, but making one less trick in 4♠ gets you a better score (420 rather than 400). How-ever, with so few trumps you need to take care.

You could just go for broke: ruff the second dia-mond and play off ♠A-K-Q hoping for a 3-3 break. You make 11 tricks if they do break well, but you lose control if they do not. The defence will ruff a club and cash two more diamonds

and the ♥A to take 4♠ two off.

NW E

S

♠ 7 5 4

♥ K Q 2

♦ 4

♣ A K Q 7 6 5

♠ 9 3 ♠ J 10 8 2

♥ 10 9 6 3 ♥ A J 8 7

♦ A K Q J 3 ♦ 10 8 2

♣ 10 4 ♣ 9 8

♠ A K Q 6

♥ 5 4

♦ 9 7 6 5

♣ J 3 2

The way to make when trumps break 4-2 (more likely than 3-3) is to duck the first round of trumps. You can still ruff a diamond in dummy, so whatever the defence tries, you can regain the lead and draw trumps and then enjoy your clubs. 4♠ making for 420 will score a top on the score sheet.

This DVD deals with one of the most important top-ics of declarer play, trying to drive home some of the major tenets of suit contract play. By the time you make your way through this, I ex-pect you to make more deci-sive plans about your trump suit and make more extra tricks by using it wisely. ■

ing for one more. There is a shortage in dummy with short trumps: if you can ruff a heart you gain a trick. A diamond ruff is not so use-ful; ruffs in the long trump hand shorten the longer trump holding and thus do not gain tricks, but a heart ruff is added to the five trump tricks in the South hand.

You win the ♦A and duck a heart. The defence take a diamond trick but then play a trump. You can win the ♠A, cross to the ♥A and take a heart ruff. Finally, you draw trumps and concede a club on the final trick.

NW E

S

♠ A 6 5

♥ 8 3

♦ 9 8 6 3

♣ A K 6 2

♠ 10 9 ♠ 7 3 2

♥ Q 7 5 2 ♥ K J 10 9

♦ K Q J ♦ 10 7 5 2

♣ Q 9 5 3 ♣ J 10

♠ K Q J 8 4

♥ A 6 4

♦ A 4

♣ 8 7 4

The DVD moves on to slightly more difficult top-ics: using your entries wisely and keeping trump control. A number of tactics

SET 4 19 Defensive Plan

20 Further Into the Auction

21 Weak Twos

22 Trump Control

23 Sacrificing

24 Improving Bridge Memory

SET 5 25 Defence as Partner

of the Leader

26 Aggressive Bidding at Duplicate Pairs

27 Strong Openings

28 Take-Out Doubles

29 Suit Establishment in Suit Contracts

30 Landy / Defending Against a 1NT Opening

SET 6 31 Counting Defence

32 Extra Tricks in No-Trumps

33 Supporting Partner

34 Finessing

35 Bidding Distributional Hands

36 Coping with Pre-Empts

£25 per DVD

£105 set of 6

BERNARD MAGEE

TUTORIAL DVDS

Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961

www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop


Put away your scorecard for just a moment be-cause I want you to study

dummy. Dummy is funda-mental to your defence and requires your attention. You can always fill in your score-card at the end of the hand.

NW E

S

♠ 8 5 4 3

♥ A K 7

♦ Q 8

♣ A J 7 6

♠ A 9 2

♥ 9 6 4

♦ K 9 7 2

♣ Q 4 2

You are East with North as dummy, the auction was short but sweet: 1NT-3NT and your partner leads the ♥Q. When dummy comes down I want you to look closely at each suit and decide on the card you might play if that suit is led. This does two things: it gets your mind into defensive gear and it also prepares you for any lead declarer might make from dummy, so if necessary you can follow smoothly.

SPADES: your partner has not led the suit and you would like your ace to kill an honour so your plan would be to duck a spade lead from dummy.

HEARTS: your partner should have three high cards to lead high against no-trumps so you would expect him to hold Q-J-10, which makes it a reasonable suit to lead back. With partner knowing you do not ‘like’ the suit by looking at dummy, you would generally give count on the first round: ♥4, low, for an odd number of cards.

DIAMONDS: if the ♦8 is led from dummy you would keep your king back, but if the queen is led you would cover with your king.

CLUBS: leading the jack would be a strange play – normally declarer, with the king in his hand would lead to the king and then finesse the other way. A lead of the jack from dummy would suggest declarer held a solid suit (K-10-9-8) and was maybe fish-ing for the queen. Plan to play low smoothly whichever club is led.

I hope you can see that put-ting your scorecard aside is worthwhile. If you get used to doing this every time dummy comes down, then your de-fence will improve immeasur-ably.

You are allowed to take your time at trick one – even if declarer calls for the ♥A straightaway. All players are given time to think on the first trick. After that you should try to play ‘in tempo’. The first time you try doing this analy-sis it will probably take you slightly too long, but as you do it more and more, you will get quicker at it.

NW E

S

♠ 8 5 4 3

♥ A K 7

♦ Q 8

♣ A J 7 6

♠ 10 7 6 ♠ A 9 2

♥ Q J 10 5 3 ♥ 9 6 4

♦ J 10 4 3 ♦ K 9 7 2

♣ 3 ♣ Q 4 2

♠ K Q J

♥ 8 2

♦ A 6 5

♣ K 10 9 8 5

Go Through Each Suit when Dummy Comes Down

More Tips from Bernard Magee

The full hand is shown above. It is relatively straight-forward.

Declarer wins the first heart with his ace and makes the clever play of the ♣J. Most defenders will not be ready for this and will either think about whether to cover (giving away the presence of the queen) or will actually cover – in both these instances declarer will make five club tricks.

However, having thought about clubs before they were led, you are ready and follow smoothly with a low club.

Declarer has no reason to place you with the queen and so makes the percentage play of taking his king and then the ace, hoping for the drop. Then he knocks out your ♠A.

You play a heart which de-clarer has to duck to break the heart communication, but your partner has been look-ing at dummy too and with no entries left in his hand to make his hearts he switches to diamonds through dummy’s queen: leading the ♦J.

Declarer ends up losing three diamonds along with a heart, a spade and a club. 3NT down two instead of an easy 11 tricks if you gave away your ♣Q.

Dummy should be the cause of much interest for the defence: analyse each suit and plan your plays if declar-er leads them. Make yourself ready. At the same time ana-lyse your partner’s lead and contemplate any sensible switches.

West’s diamond switch was as crucial as your smooth play in clubs. ■

FEATURES INCLUDE

l Help button – explains the features for bidding and card play advice

l Displays on HD and large screens

l Comprehensive manual

l Feed in your own deals

l Minibridge option

l 5,000 preplayed hands for teams

l 4,000 preplayed hands for matchpoint pairs

l Save match function

l Closed room – button to view other table

Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk

TRADE-IN OFFER

Send in ANY bridge software, together with a cheque for £50 and receive QPlus 12.

QPLUS 12

Really user-friendly bridge-playing

software

System: 8mb RAM, CD-ROM, Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10

£99including

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Join Bernard Magee and his team on this exclusive river cruise

Cruise the Danube to Vienna & Budapest aboard ms Serenity October 2018

ms Serenity & Budapest

10 DAYS FROM

£1149

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

A bridge programme of seminars, set hands and duplicate sessions will be organised around the cruise itinerary, together with a welcome and a farewell drinks party.

To book or for more information contact 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

Bernard Magee and team will be on board

Cruise the Danube to Vienna & Budapest aboard 4 star ms Serenity

By coach: 14-23 October 2018; by air: 15-22 October 2018

Danube

Danube

Elbe

Rhin

e

Rhine

Mose

lleMain

IJsselmeer

Main Danube CanalN

eckar

Inn

Ilz

BratislavaViennaMelk

DürnsteinPassau

Budapest

SLOVAKIA

HUNGARY

CZECH REPUBLIC

AUSTRIA

SERBIA

GERMANY

SWITZERLAND

NETHERLANDS

ITALYSLOVENIA

CROATIA

BOSNIA &

HERZEGOVINA

start

The Danube

Day 1: UK – Germany (Coach)Travel by coach to Dover from your chosen departure point and take the ferry to Calais, where we continue to the overnight hotel.

Day 2: Germany – Passau (Air)After breakfast we travel by coach and board our ship in Passau, known as ‘the three rivers city’ due to its unique location where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet. Those travelling by air join today.

Safety briefi ng and welcome meeting from the ship as we set sail and cruise towards Melk.

Day 3: Melk – ViennaThis morning we arrive in the small town of Melk which lies in the beautiful Wachau valley. Here you can join an optional excursion to visit the most famous monastic house in Austria, the Benedictine Abbey, situated above Melk in the Wachau valley. Return to the ship late morning and enjoy afternoon bridge as we sail to Vienna for an overnight stop.

This evening there will be a Mr Bridge pre-dinner drinks reception in the lounge/bar followed by dinner as we arrive in Vienna.

Discover the delights of the Danube as you enjoy seminars and daily bridge* on one of the most scenic journeys through the heart of Europe. From the pretty city of Passau on the Austrian border to the Hungarian capital of Budapest, we cruise in comfort and style aboard the ms Serenity, passing through the beautiful scenery of the Wachau valley and dipping into the history and culture of amazing cities along the way. With full days in the musical city of Vienna and in Budapest as well as a visit to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, this is a wonderful opportunity to sail the waters that are beautifully immortalised by the composer Strauss, in the classical waltz The Blue Danube.

Day 4: ViennaWe spend a whole day in Vienna experiencing the delights of this beautiful city. In the morning you can join an optional city tour to experience its grand palaces, baroque castles, magnifi cent squares and striking monuments and after lunch on board we have an optional afternoon excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, or alternatively you may wish to join an afternoon bridge session. Enjoy evening bridge on board as we cast o� and cruise towards Budapest.

Vienna

Bratislava Castle

2018 No. of Ferry crossing/date days airport14 October (coach) 10 Dover15 October (air) 8 LHR BHX MAN

Cabin prices per person Tour code: DANUBCode Deck options Berth By coach By air

LHRMain Deck 2 £1149 £1249Middle Deck 2 £1299 £1399Panorama Deck 2 £1449 £1549

All prices shown are per person; a limited number of cabins for sole occupancy are available with a reduced 25% supplement (thereafter 35% supplement applies).___________________________________________Travel Insurance – from £35.95 per person______________________________________________________________________________________Deposit – £275 per person, payable to The River Cruise Line___________________________________________

PROVISIONAL FLIGHT TIMESOutward journey Departs London Heathrow 09.00Departs Manchester 10.40Departs Birmingham 10.40Return journeyDeparts Munich for London Heathrow 16.05Departs Munich for Manchester 15.35Departs Munich for Birmingham 15.40

Please have your passport and insurance details to hand when calling to book

Day 5: BudapestAfter breakfast there will be a bridge seminar in the Lounge Bar before we sail into Budapest with commentary on the city as we arrive. Then spend time in one of the world’s most beautiful cities and explore both sides of Hungary’s capital – traditional ‘Buda’ and cosmopolitan ‘Pest’. Start with an optional tour to become acquainted with the city known as the “pearl of the Danube” and in the evening you can choose to either play more bridge or experience Budapest by night on another optional excursion, enjoying a city tour, glass of wine and a folklore show in a local tavern.

Day 6: BudapestEnjoy free time in Budapest or opt to take our excursion taking you through the sweeping plains of Hungary to Lajosmizse. Here we visit a traditional stud farm and enjoy a tour of the grounds in a horse-drawn carriage, before watching a live Puszta horse show. We then sail to Bratislava with a seminar and set hands in the afternoon followed by after-dinner bridge in the evening.

Day 7: BratislavaEarly morning arrival into Bratislava.

After breakfast, join our optional walking tour to take in the sights of the Slovakian capital, dominated by its castle and unique suspension bridge, to experience its rich culture. Later in the day we set sail towards Dürnstein and there will be afternoon and evening bridge sessions.

Day 8: DürnsteinDürnstein is crowned by the ruins of the castle that once imprisoned Richard the Lionheart. Take time to walk in the town and explore its pretty courtyards and buildings before we set sail for Passau with a bridge seminar to enjoy on the way and pre-dinner bridge in the Lounge bar.

Day 9: Passau – Germany (Coach) / UK (Air)Those travelling by coach disembark after breakfast and travel by coach to the overnight hotel. Those travelling by air also disembark this morning for their return fl ights to the UK.

Day 10: Germany – UK (Coach)After breakfast you will continue by coach to Calais, taking the ferry to Dover for the return journey to your chosen pick-up/drop-o£ points.

YOUR CRUISE INCLUDESBY COACH Coach travel to Dover from selected local pick-ups Return ferry crossings from Dover 7 nights’ cruise on a full board basis 2 nights’ half board hotel accommodationBY AIR Return fl ights from London Heathrow or fl y direct from Manchester or Birmingham at a £30pp supplement (subject to availability) Coach transfers between airport and ship 7 nights’ cruise on a full board basis

Gratuities – all gratuities are discretionary

*Please note the bridge programme may be subject to change

ms Serenity – restaurant

EXCURSIONS Melk Abbey .............................................................. £21 Vienna city tour .................................................... £25 Schönbrunn Palace .............................................. £35 Budapest city tour ................................................ £21 Budapest by night ................................................ £35 Puszta horse show ...............................................£36 Bratislava city tour ............................................... £24

Mr Bridge recommends you pre-book at his special package price £169Saving per person £28

EXCURSIONSExcursions are required to be booked and paid for no later than 10 weeks before departure. Please note any requests received within 10 weeks cannot be guaranteed and is subject to their availability.

SPECIAL REQUESTS Any special requests such as airport assistance or dietary requirements must be advised at the time of booking. Booking information such as passport details, insurance details and next of kin information should be given atthe time of booking and certainly no later than 10 weeks prior to departure. Please note any special requirements received within 10 weeks of departure cannot be guaranteed.

Departure Points

Passengers using our complimentary coach transfer service should be aware that regional departures are subject to availability and are operated subject to minimum numbers of people. Due to ferry crossing times coach pick-ups will be early, call for more details.

BedfordshireLuton

Berkshire Newbury Reading

BuckinghamshireMilton Keynes

Essex Brentwood Chelmsford Romford Thurrock Services

HampshireHavant Portsmouth

HertfordshireSouth Mimms Services Stevenage

KentAshford Canterbury Dartford Maidstone Services

NorthamptonshireNorthampton

OxfordshireOxford

SurreyReigate Woking

Sussex (East)Brighton Eastbourne Hastings Hove

Sussex (West)Chichester Crawley

PB04

05MS SERENITY – DECK PLAN

Deck Berth Cabin facilities Panorama Deck 2 Shower/WC

Middle Deck 2 Shower/WC

Main Deck 2 Shower/WC

Main Deck

127

125

123

121

119 117 115 113 111 109

107

105

103

101

128

126

124

122

120

118 116 114 112 110 108

106

104

102

Sun Deck

Panorama Deck

301

303

305

307

309

311

313

315

317

319

321

323

325

327

329

331

333

335

302

304

306

308

310

312

314

316

318

320

322

324

326

328

330

332

334

336

Lounge Bar

Lido Bar

Profile

Lounge BarRestaurantReceptionMiddle Deck

Panorama Deck

Main Deck

Middle Deck

228

226

224

222

220

218

216

214

212

210

208

206

204

202

227

230

232

229

231

225

223

221

219

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215

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211

209

207

205

203

201

RestaurantReception

Main Deck Middle Deck Panorama Deck

To book or for more information contact 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.ukPlease have your passport and insurance details to hand when calling to book.You will need to accept the terms & conditions when making your booking – for full terms & conditions visit the Mr Bridge website or call for a copy.

We know that for many of our customers a convenient pick-up is important, so we o� er a choice of pick-ups and routes across the country and we promise that after you have boarded your tour coach there will be no more than six additional pick-up stops on route to the UK port of departure (excluding motorway services and overnight hotel stops).

OVER NIGHT HOTEL – WITH CAR PAR KINGFor ferry crossings from Dover you can book overnight accommodation with breakfast close to the port of departure and be collected/returned by our coach from just £59 per person – including car parking for the duration of your holiday.

Enjoy the Ramada Hotel, Dover and the Ashford International Hotel, an ideal overnight stay with breakfast included prior to meeting up with your fellow travellers when the coach collects you from the hotel.

Prices for an overnight start at £59 per person per night for a twin/double bedded room, single room supplement £29 per person per night.

Car parking is subject to availability and conditions, it may be necessary to park nearby.

MEET AT YOUR CRUISE SHIPMake your own travel arrangements at your convenience to join this cruise, simply board your cruise ship at the embarkation point. Details available on request.

JOIN AT THE PORT AND PAR KJoin at the departure port. Leave your car in a secure car park close to the port of departure and be collected/returned by our coach.

Car parking at Dover Eastern Docks is £9 per day. We can pre-book parking for you.

Prices are subject to change.

£29 per person per night.

Car parking is subject to availability and conditions, it may be necessary to park nearby.

your convenience to join this cruise, simply board your cruise ship at the embarkation point. Details available on request.


NW E

S

1. ♠ K 6 5

♥ J 10

♦ K Q 7 4 3 2

♣ 5 3

♠ 9 2 ♠ J 10 8 7 3

♥ Q 9 8 7 3 ♥ 6 5 4

♦ 9 8 ♦ A J 10

♣ A 10 8 2 ♣ K 7

♠ A Q 4

♥ A K 2

♦ 6 5

♣ Q J 9 6 4

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the ♥7. The ♥J wins. How do you plan the play?

You are looking for three extra tricks from the minors and at first glance it might seem right to enter the closed hand with a spade in order to lead up to the king of diamonds. But if you do that and the king holds you might be in trouble. Suppose you re-enter your hand with a heart and lead a second diamond to the queen with East producing the ace. Now you have no means of establishing the suit and getting back to dummy to enjoy your winners. The solution is easy once you see it. Simply lead a low diamond from dummy at trick two and as long as the suit breaks 3-2 you will be OK, with the spade king providing the entry that you need.

NW E

S

2. ♠ A 10 7

♥ Q 6 4

♦ 5 4 2

♣ A J 6 2

♠ 5 4 ♠ 6 3

♥ A K 10 5 2 ♥ J 9 8 3

♦ A J 8 ♦ 10 9 3

♣ 10 8 4 ♣ K 9 7 3

♠ K Q J 9 8 2

♥ 7

♦ K Q 7 6

♣ Q 5

You are declarer in 4♠ after West opens 1♥ and East raises to 2♥. West leads the ♥K (for count) and switches to a low trump. How do you plan the play?

You have four potential losers with one heart, two diamonds and a club. From the bidding East is marked with either the king of clubs or the ace of diamonds. So win the trump switch in dummy and lead a low club. If East has the king and rises with it then you will have two club winners for diamond pitches while if he plays low from a holding containing the king then you have no club loser. If West wins the trick then East must hold the ace of diamonds, meaning you have just the one loser there after you twice lead towards the ♦K-Q from dummy, trumps providing the entries you need.

NW E

S

3. ♠ A 7 6

♥ K 6 5

♦ 10 9 5

♣ A 8 6 4

♠ K 10 9 8 3 ♠ Q 4

♥ Q J 7 ♥ 10 8 4 3

♦ A ♦ 8 7 4 3

♣ Q J 7 2 ♣ 10 9 3

♠ J 5 2

♥ A 9 2

♦ K Q J 6 2

♣ K 5

You are declarer in 3NT after West opened 1♠. West leads the ♠10. How do you plan the play?

With only fifteen points missing it is tempting to place them all with West after his opening bid. But can that really be the case? Surely with a suit headed by the K-Q-10 he would have led the king. The obvious conclusion is that East must have a doubleton honour, which makes it imperative for you to rise with the ace from dummy immediately. If you don’t, East will win and return a second spade and with West bound to hold the ace of diamonds he will have the entry to cash

four spade winners to defeat you. By playing the ace from dummy at trick one you will block the suit.

NW E

S

4. ♠ K 9 8 2

♥ K Q 5

♦ 7 6 4

♣ A K 2

♠ 4 3 ♠ 6

♥ J 10 9 2 ♥ A 8 7 6 4

♦ A 10 5 2 ♦ Q J 9 3

♣ 9 5 3 ♣ Q J 10

♠ A Q J 10 7 5

♥ 3

♦ K 8

♣ 8 7 6 4

You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads the ♥J. How do you plan the play?

The worst that can happen is that you lose one heart, one club and two diamonds if the ace of that suit is badly placed – so you have to assume that it is. If you play a top heart from dummy at trick one East will win and might well return a diamond, leading to defeat as the cards lie. Instead try the effect of ducking the jack of hearts lead altogether. If East overtakes then you have two club discards while if he doesn’t, you can ruff out the ace and throw the low diamond from hand.

If East ducks at trick one, you will make eventually six spade tricks, one heart, two top clubs and a club ruff in dummy. ■

Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 19

DUPLICATE BRIDGE RULES SIMPLIFIED

(otherwise known as the Yellow Book)

by David StevensonFully Revised 2017

Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk

only

£595


About Duplicate Pairs by Andrew Kambites

Adapting Your Style and System

If you accept that getting to the right part score takes priority over bidding thin games at pairs, you can adjust your style to take advantage of this. Look at Hands A and B. In each case the opponent on your right has opened 1NT (12-14 points) and it is love all.

Hand A Hand B

♠ K Q 7 6 5 4 ♠ K 7 6 5 4

♥ 8 7 6 ♥ Q 10 6 5

♦ K 2 ♦ 9 7

♣ 9 7 ♣ K 6

With Hand A it would be unwise to bid 2♠ if playing teams. Partner would expect you to have more and would certainly investigate game with, say, a balanced 11 points. Playing teams you cannot afford to have a huge range for your overcalls. However there is another important consideration here that both you and your partner must realise.

Playing pairs at love all, it really pays to get opponents out of 1NT if the points are

roughly evenly shared.

The problem is that if you let them play in 1NT they will probably score well whether or not they make it.

Suppose they go one off. You might initially be satisfied with +50, but it is almost certain that you could have made your own contract, maybe +110 in 2♠.

On the other hand suppose they

make it, giving you -90, or -120 if they make an overtrick. You open the traveller and find that lots of pairs your way have gone one off in 2♠, scoring -50.

Playing teams-of-four this would hardly matter (maybe one or two IMPs) but such small variations in score can make a big difference to your matchpoint score at duplicate pairs. If you let them play in 1NT your only upside is if they go off in 1NT and you cannot make a part score of your own, not very likely.

Note that this sort of argument is not so valid at game all where either side is going off in hundreds or even with just one side vulnerable (whichever side it is) because on the one hand you don’t want to go off in hundreds if you are vulnerable, or if they are vulnerable you might score very well if they go off in hundreds.

So suppose you understand and accept the principle you might take liberties to get opponents out of 1NT at love all. Compare this to the fact that you should not give priority to straining for thin games at pairs and can you see how you can now afford to push your way into the auction with Hands A and B?

The logic is that partner should make allowances for you coming in light at love all, and not punish you for your enterprise by bidding on with marginal hands. Of course you might sometimes overcall 1NT with 2♠ on a hand which is almost strong enough to double and if partner is worried that you might have Hand A

and passes, you might miss game. That is an inevitable consequence of your changed priorities when playing pairs.

With Hand B you have a two suited hand. Again playing teams you should have no reason to intervene with such a weak hand, but at love all playing pairs you should reflect that if you can find a fit you will almost certainly score better than allowing them to play in 1NT. You really cannot bid 2♠ with such a weak suit, but if you have a two-suited overcall available to show both majors your chances of finding a fit are doubled.

Experience has taught me that if I have a two-suiter partner frequently has a reasonable fit in one of the suits and extreme shortage in the other. You can often ruff losers in the hand with short trumps and score well. It is very desirable to play a system of two suited overcalls to 1NT. The most commonly played is Landy, where overcalling 1NT with 2♣ shows the majors, possibly 5-4 shape. The advantage of Landy is its simplicity. The disadvantage is that the only two suited combination you can show is the majors. Other methods show more combinations but are a little harder to use.

At duplicate pairs consider learning a system of two-suited overcalls against 1NT

and adding it to your repertoire.

Some other well established principles from the early days of bridge are worth re-examination. It has always been written in stone that if you make a bid


you should be prepared for any rebid by partner. However suppose partner opens 1♣ and you have Hand C or D. You are playing duplicate pairs.

Hand C Hand D

♠ 9 7 6 ♠ 9 7 2

♥ Q 10 9 7 6 5 ♥ Q 9 7 6

♦ 7 4 3 ♦ J 7 4

♣ 2 ♣ Q 9 8

Most experts nowadays would respond to 1♣ with 1♥ with Hand C. I have no doubt that some of the founding fathers of Acol would turn in their graves at this suggestion, but don’t you instinctively know that you are going to get a bad score if you pass 1♣? Good opponents will only allow your partner to play in 1♣ if it suits them, ie if 1♣ is a dreadful contract. Playing 1♣ with a 4-1 fit won’t be much fun for partner. But suppose you improvise with a 1♥ response.

If partner rebids 1♠ you can pass.If partner rebids 1NT you can sign

off in 2♥.If partner rebids 2♦ or 2♠ you can

pass. Yes, I know that both of these rebids are unconditionally forcing but you were not worth a response in the first place so you are hardly likely to have missed game.

If partner rebids 2NT you can sign off in 3♥.

If partner rebids 2♣ you might initially feel unhappy, but on further reflection your opponents have game values so you might still get an excellent score if they fail to compete. Note that in this case a 1♥ response has achieved something different but still very valuable: you have made it harder for opponents to enter the auction when they have a large majority of the points.

Only if your partner bids 3♣ will you really regret responding 1♥.

Playing pairs the crucial determining point when you make a risky bid is whether

you are more likely to gain or lose by making the bid.

Frequency overrides fear. I hope you will agree that you are far more likely to gain than to lose by responding 1♥.

Responding on what would normally be regarded as insufficient values is to be considered mainly when you hate partner’s suit and are prepared to take risks to improve the contract. There is no good reason to do anything except pass with Hand D.

Protective bidding

I have looked at the need to bid really aggressively over opponents’ 1NT at pairs when neither side is vulnerable. That is merely an introduction to a much bigger theme.

There are a huge number of hands at duplicate pairs where the points are split

roughly evenly between the two sides, and either side can make a part-score in its chosen trump suit. If you regularly allow opponents to steal these contracts cheaply without a fight then you will be a loser.

I call these hands 20/20 hands, not after the form of limited over cricket, but because each side has roughly 20 points. Come to think of it, the approach to these hands at duplicate pairs rather resembles 20/20 cricket: fuelled by testosterone. This leads to another related principle.

At duplicate pairs you must be very aggressive in the fight to win the part score.

I often see this scenario. South opens 1♥. West and North pass. East gives a sigh of relief that nothing is expected of him and passes quickly. That is a cop-out. East should be looking for reasons to bid, not to pass. If East passes in this position (called the protective seat) it should be with great reluctance.

The time when East should be pleased to pass is if he has good reason to believe that N/S are in the wrong contract.

Suppose South opens 1♥ at love all, followed by passes from West and North.

Consider East’s actions with Hands E, F and G.

Hand E Hand F Hand G

♠ K 10 5 4 3 ♠ K 8 6 ♠ 7 5

♥ 9 7 ♥ 8 3 ♥ A Q J 7 6

♦ K 10 8 3 ♦ K J 6 5 ♦ K 8 7

♣ 6 2 ♣ Q 6 4 3 ♣ 9 6 2

The main principle is that you should add a useful king to your assets and make the bid that you would have done with that extra king if you had been seated immediately over the 1♥ bidder.

With Hand E overcall 1♠. Replace, say, the ♣6 with the ♣K and your hand is certainly worth an overcall in second seat. Is this dangerous? It is far safer than you think. You know that partner has at least ten points, otherwise why are your opponents passing the hand out in 1♥?

With Hand F make a take-out double.

With Hand G you must pass. Of course there is nothing sensible you can say, but even if you had a bid available you shouldn’t consider it. How would you feel if you resurrected this dying auction and your opponents ended up in spades? You believe they are in the wrong contract at present. Aim to get your good score by letting them play there.

If the opponents open 1♣ or 1♦ and it is passed round to you then you should consider the

implications of pushing them into a higher scoring major suit contract or no-trumps before making a protective bid.

Many players pass far too quickly as North after Auction H.

Auction H


1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass

Pass ?

Your opponents have found a fit, yet they have passed the hand out at the two level. This is almost certainly a 20/20 hand and if they have a fit then you will also have a fit. All you need to do is find it. You cannot afford not to try, even if there is an element of danger.


Hand J Hand K Hand L

♠ J 10 7 3 2 ♠ A Q 10 6 ♠ K 7 6

♥ 9 3 2 ♥ 9 8 3 ♥ 8 4 3

♦ A J 7 ♦ K 6 2 ♦ A Q 8 7

♣ 8 6 ♣ 8 6 5 ♣ J 7 6

Even if you are vulnerable it should be automatic to re-open the auction with any of these hands if you are the North player in Auction H.

With Hand J overcall 2♠. 2♠ is correct also with Hand K, despite the fact that you have only four spades.

With Hand L make a take-out double. But suppose you find it hard to find a fit and your opponents double, leaving you with -500? Remember, it is only one bottom.

Playing pairs the crucial determining point when you make a risky bid is whether

you are more likely to gain or lose by making the bid.

Frequency overrides fear. Partner will not take your bid too seriously, after all you have already passed over

1♥. Equally partner will be aware that finding the best part-score takes priority over bidding borderline games at duplicate pairs.

It is not the purpose of this article to explore fully how to bid in the protective position or how partner should make an allowance for the fact that you should mentally add a king to your assets. This theme is also highly relevant if you are playing teams of four and any inexperienced bridge player would benefit by reading a book or comprehensive article on this topic. ■

1. At love all your partner opens 1♦. What is your response with hands A and B? If you choose to bid, give your second bid after all rebids by partner up to and including 2NT.

Hand A Hand B ♠ J 10 9 6 5 4 ♠ J 10 3 2 ♥ 7 5 4 ♥ Q 5 4 ♦ 9 ♦ 9 5 4 ♣ Q 6 5 ♣ Q 6 5

2. Your left hand opponent opens 1NT and partner overcalls 2♥. Your right hand opponent passes. What is your bid with Hands A and B: i) At love all? ii) At game all?

Hand A Hand B ♠ K J 6 ♠ K 7 6 ♥ 8 4 ♥ 9 7 6 ♦ A Q 10 8 ♦ A Q 2 ♣ Q 9 8 4 ♣ A 9 8 4

3. Your right hand opponent opens 1NT. What do you say with Hands A, B and C: i) At love all? ii) At game all?

Hand A Hand B Hand C ♠ A J 7 6 5 4 ♠ A Q J 7 5 4 ♠ A Q J 7 5 4 ♥ 9 8 ♥ 9 8 ♥ K 8 ♦ Q J 7 ♦ K Q 7 6 ♦ K Q 7 6 ♣ 6 4 ♣ 6 ♣ 6

Adapting Your Style and System Quizby Andrew Kambites

You are playing matchpoint pairs in each of the questions below. (Answers on page 35)

4. At game all, what do you bid with Hands A, B, and C?

West North East South 1♣ Pass Pass ?

Hand A Hand B Hand C ♠ K 8 7 4 3 ♠ K J 8 6 ♠ 5 2 ♥ 8 5 ♥ A J 9 7 ♥ A J 9 7 ♦ K 10 9 2 ♦ 10 9 3 ♦ 10 9 3 ♣ 7 3 ♣ 5 2 ♣ K J 8 6

5. At game all, what do you bid with Hands A, B, and C?

West North East South 1♠ Pass 2♠ Pass Pass ?

Hand A Hand B Hand C ♠ 8 ♠ 7 6 5 ♠ 7 6 ♥ 7 5 3 2 ♥ K 10 9 4 ♥ 8 ♦ A J 6 5 ♦ A J 10 2 ♦ K J 8 7 6 ♣ Q 10 8 6 ♣ 8 5 ♣ K 8 6 4 3


QDo you think bridge has any future in England or anywhere else?

A Bridge, as we know it, is not all that old. Contract Bridge dates back to the mid

1920s, Auction Bridge for 30 or 40 years before that and the EBU to 23 May 1936. When the game first got going both here and in the USA, it was a world with relatively few other distractions.

Compare it to 2018 where TVs have 500+ channels to view, the internet, online gaming and 101 other things. Many activities that have been popular for many years are undergoing a challenge. If you go into most bridge clubs you’ll see that most competitors have reached middle age or more. There will be few young people. When I started playing one event held was the Young Players Pairs (for those who were U26). This had three heats across the country and upwards of 200 pairs entering. Today, the same competition attracts only about twenty-five pairs. Some clubs have suffered declining numbers and a few have had to close because of lack of support.

Bridge may have problems as a pastime but it is hardly the only activity to do so. In the last decade participation in golf has declined from 1.54 million to 1.13 million. County Cricket grounds are nigh on empty for many first-class matches and since the Olympic Games were held in London

in 2012 the numbers participating in a sport once per week or more has dropped by around 9,000 – contrary to hopes at the time that they would markedly increase.

Adapting to the modern age

To know other activities may also have their problems isn’t all that consoling, so where can bridge go if it is to survive? It can start by embracing modern technology. Most clubs have websites and many use electronic scoring. Clubs which are affiliated to the EBU can get grants to assist with scoring devices such as Bridgemates and, of course, EBUScore is free to all affiliated clubs.

Quite a few people both watch and play bridge online. Bridge Base online allows you to watch world championships and also to play without leaving the house. Funbridge organise competitions each weekend which attract 200+ participants (no partner needed). The software is free, you don’t have to be an EBU member (although you do if you want to win masterpoints) and you can get details from www.ebu.co.uk if you want to know more. I suspect that more people will use computers, phones and tablets as time passes so becoming more involved in the online world is one way to both survive and prosper.

When the new laws came into

force earlier this year, explanations of the laws and how they would affect players were covered in traditional courses. The world of YouTube has also been used for those who want to learn remotely and those who wanted to seek clarification. A new laws forum has been set up for directors and organisers to discuss problems that arise with the laws and scoring (www.ebu.co.uk/forum). You have to register before you can comment but anyone can read.

VolunteersNot everyone is that keen to play online and for many the visit to the club is a good way to meet people as well as having fun. Most clubs are members’ clubs and they rely on volunteers. Typically your game costs a lot less than most social activities. £2.50 and perhaps a cup of tea included is quite common but your club needs a committee to help it plan and organise events, it needs people to collect table money and direct and make the tea and coffee. It’s getting harder to find volunteers, something that is also seen at national level where people who sit on the Board, committees etc are all volunteers as are the many people who work at county level. Of course if the person collecting table money or membership subs is confronted with moans from people who think they ought to get their game for next to nothing and make clear their

About the EBU by Jeremy Dhondy

The FutureMy name is Jeremy Dhondy and I am the Chairman of the English Bridge Union.

This column is to answer questions or comments about the EBU that you might have. If you have a comment or a question, I would be happy to hear from you. [email protected]


resentment at having to pay 25% of the cost of a cinema ticket instead of 20%, then said volunteer may well decide to do something else like skydiving! Being a director can also be a thankless task as some bridge players can be quite argumentative and that doesn’t just apply to the more competitive ones. Running a successful club which welcomes people and gives them a good time is also a way to help the game continue.

Attracting more people

People are finding other things to do and the bridge population is ageing. How can this be countered? Teaching people to play is key in this area. I wrote several months ago about Fast Track Bridge which is a new product designed to get people to the table much faster than conventional teaching methods. It suits some and I am glad to say has attracted a number of teachers to run the courses. The more traditional route is supported by courses such as Bridge for All and there are also teachers who don’t use any of those products who teach successfully (I think that is a shame as they are very good teaching products). Clubs can promote teaching and get themselves a new supply of members. The EBU and its fellow charity EBED have taken on the job of producing teaching courses, helping to train teachers, keeping a database of existing teachers in order to help maintain the supply of students who will end up playing in our clubs. That’s a good example of why a national organisation is needed if the game is to prosper. The short term fix is to teach people who are coming up to retirement age who find that they have more leisure time than previously. In the long term, of course, something that attracts the young is important even if many leave the game when job or family becomes quite demanding on their time. Many will return later.

Improving the imageAt a local level if you have taught beginners they will only enjoy the

club game if the club has a pleasant environment and the members are also pleasant. Why join a club to be abused? Any local club has to give consideration to this and whether that means a code like Best Behaviour at Bridge or some more stringent action against those who offend is for the club to decide.

At national or international level it may be a matter of improving the image of the game. The stories of cheats and their methods over the last couple of years may bring some adverse publicity which may mean that a school thinking of introducing bridge is discouraged. In an ideal world, bridge would be a part of the curriculum as it is in other countries eg Sweden and Poland. I mentioned a few issues ago that there were areas as Stamford, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Sussex and West Kent where there are successful projects to involve schools with both bridge and mini bridge. Getting more areas involved and expanding this project is key to the future. At international level there is more acceptance of the idea of ‘Mind Sports’ and IMSA (the International Mind Sports Association) was formed over a decade ago. It held events at the same time as the Olympic Games in 2008, 2012 and 2016. One strong hope for the future is the East. Deng Xiaoping, when leader of China, gave bridge good treatment (he was keen on the game) and from this foundation has come many thousands of junior players. There was a tournament held in Lyon a few months ago alongside the world championships and the junior field was over 50% Chinese. Bridge will be a ‘sport’ in the next Asian Games.

Where do we go?Bridge is a game which has survived the test of time. It is on a list of preferred activities by people all over the world perhaps because it is an inexhaustible game of skill. With 635,013,559,600 different hands you are unlikely to see the same one come round again soon. There are signs especially in the West that it is a game more for the old and fewer young people are playing. I’ve suggested above a few ways to slow

the decline and indeed by embracing new technology how the decline might be reversed. Things are significantly brighter in other parts of the world. We might look at how the game could change. When bridge was younger, although most thought the game was fine as it was, there were those who wanted to change it. Five-suit bridge lasted a short time.

A variant of introducing a new suit (the Rex suit) to sit between spades and no-trumps but the ace was low lasted an even shorter time. It is a game where even if you have learnt the fundamentals, there is a sizeable step to learn the various regulations and procedures which follow. Perhaps we should look to simplifying the game to increase its attractiveness. The book of regulation in England is 32 pages today, not 72 pages as it was a few years ago, and I am not sure the game is any the worse for it. Indeed there are those who think two pages would be even better.

We need to build on the things the game has such as its element of competition. It isn’t unique in the world of mind sports for that but it is perhaps more sociable. Many players also like to chat about the game and that used to involve meeting, but now the online world can assist with this. When the cheating scandals broke a couple of years ago, whatever the downsides (and there were many), it was the making of Bridgewinners (www.bridgewinners.com) allowing players from all over the world to comment, discuss and argue. So yes, to answer the original question, I believe bridge has a future. I suspect more will be online but face to face has many years left and the better it is looked after, the longer that will be. ■

The Eagle Suit


1 At love all your partner opens 1♦. What is your response with Hands A and B? If you choose to bid, give your second bid after all rebids by partner up to and including 2NT.

Hand A Hand B

♠ J 10 9 6 5 4 ♠ J 10 3 2

♥ 7 5 4 ♥ Q 5 4

♦ 9 ♦ 9 5 4

♣ Q 6 5 ♣ Q 6 5

Hand A Respond 1♠ in an attempt to improve the contract. If partner’s rebid is 1NT or 2NT, rebid spades at the lowest level as a sign off. If partner rebids 2♣, 2♥ or 2♠ you should pass. If partner rebids 2♦ you should probably pass though 2♠ is a reasonable risk.

Hand B Pass 1♦. No need to improve the denomination here.

2 Your left hand opponent opens 1NT and partner overcalls 2♥. Your right hand opponent passes. What is your bid with Hands A and B: ( i) At love all? (ii) At game all?

Hand A Hand B

♠ K J 6 ♠ K 7 6

♥ 8 4 ♥ 9 7 6

♦ A Q 10 8 ♦ A Q 2

♣ Q 9 8 4 ♣ A 9 8 4

At game all you can expect partner’s overcall to be sound. At love all partner might have overcalled on rubbish to keep them out of 1NT.Hand A (i) Pass. Hand A (ii) 2NT. Inviting game if partner is maximum.Hand B (i) 3♥. Game invitation.Hand B (ii) 4♥. Game should be good opposite partner’s two-

level vulnerable overcall.

3 Your right hand opponent opens 1NT. What do you say with Hands A, B and C: (i) At love all? (ii) At game all?

Hand A Hand B Hand C

♠ A J 7 6 5 4 ♠ A Q J 7 5 4 ♠ A Q J 7 5 4

♥ 9 8 ♥ 9 8 ♥ K 8

♦ Q J 7 ♦ K Q 7 6 ♦ K Q 7 6

♣ 6 4 ♣ 6 ♣ 6

Hand A (i) 2♠. Try not let them play in 1NT at love all.Hand A (ii) Pass. Not enough for a vulnerable two-level overcall.Hand B (i) 2♠. I know this is much stronger than Hand A, with

which you would also bid 2♠. It makes it hard for partner but he must bear in mind the priority is not to bid thin games.

Hand B (ii) 2♠. Hand C (i) Dbl. With a good 15 HCP you start by doubling 1NT. Hand C (ii) Dbl.

4 At game all, what do you bid with Hands A, B, and C?


1♣ Pass Pass

?


♠ K 8 7 4 3 ♠ K J 8 6 ♠ 5 2

♥ 8 5 ♥ A J 9 7 ♥ A J 9 7

♦ K 10 9 2 ♦ 10 9 3 ♦ 10 9 3

♣ 7 3 ♣ 5 2 ♣ K J 8 6

Hand A Bid 1♠. Add a useful king in the protective position.Hand B Double for take-out.Hand C Pass. If you re-open there is too great a chance that

opponents will end up in spades or no-trumps. You have good reason to believe that they are in the wrong contract. Leave well alone.

5 At game all, what do you bid with Hands A, B, and C?


1♠

Pass 2♠ Pass Pass

?


♠ 8 ♠ 7 6 5 ♠ 7 6

♥ 7 5 3 2 ♥ K 10 9 4 ♥ 8

♦ A J 6 5 ♦ A J 10 2 ♦ K J 8 7 6

♣ Q 10 8 6 ♣ 8 5 ♣ K 8 6 4 3

Hand A Double, for take-out. You know partner has some points, otherwise why are they not trying for game? They have a fit, so you have a fit.

Hand B Double. If partner bids 3♣ bid 3♦, offering a choice between the red suits. Normally if you double and then change suit you are showing a very strong hand but partner will remember that you passed over 1♠.

Hand C Bid 2NT, for the minors. 2NT cannot be natural because you passed 1♠. Usually 2NT is only unusual if it is a jump to 2NT, but here partner will remember you passed over 1♠. ■

Answers to Adapting Your Style and System Quiz on page 32


Unlike many of the simple lines of play that you can choose

when you are declarer, cross-ruffing is something that is done far too often rather than not often enough.

(Oddly this is probably because the name is quite catchy and people can re-member it.)

Playing a hand on a cross-ruff, as opposed to just ruff-ing losers in the dummy (dummy being the short trump hand, as we saw last month) occurs relatively rarely, as there are a few conditions that need to be fulfilled before you can go for a cross-ruff:

a) You need to be able to cash your side suit win-ners first, which means having quick tricks in the side suits.

b) You usually need to be able to start your ruffing straight away, as every time you lose the lead the opponents will switch to trumps to cut down on your ruffing power.

c) Since a cross-ruff doesn’t involve drawing trumps at any stage you will not make any long cards in side suits. If you have any suits like that then it is not the time to cross-ruff.

Let’s compare and contrast

two sets of hands both of which look as if they might lend themselves to a cross-ruff.

NW E

S

Hand A

♠ A 9 3 2

♥ K J 8 6 3

♦ 4

♣ Q J 9

♠ K Q 10 5

♥ Q

♦ A 5 3 2

♣ K 10 6 3

NW E

S

Hand B

♠ A 9 5 3

♥ A 10 7 3 2

♦ 4

♣ A 3 2

♠ K Q 10 4

♥ J

♦ A 9 6 3

♣ K 8 7 4

The contract and lead are the same on both hands – 4♠ by South, ♦K lead.

On Hand A, you don’t need to cross-ruff as you have two side suits that will produce enough tricks

for the contract, clubs and hearts. On a neutral lead such as the ♦K simply win and play the ♥Q. If the opponents take it with the ace then they can do nothing to harm you, whilst if they duck it you can simply knock out the ace of clubs. You basic plan will be to make two heart tricks, three club tricks and four trump tricks in hand to go with the ♦A to make ten. If the play goes well you can always ruff a diamond to give you the overtrick. If there is an unforeseen problem such as a 4-1 trump break or a bad break in clubs, you will still end up with ten tricks.

On Hand B you should perform a cross-ruff since you have no long cards to develop. Win the ♦K lead and play the ♣A, ♥A and back to the ♣K. Now ruff a diamond low, ruff a heart in your hand low, ruff another diamond with the ♠9 and another heart with the ten of trumps. Now ruff your last diamond with the ace of trumps (I’d like to see someone overruff that) and that is 11 tricks, losing just two clubs at the end.

Note that it might seem that if you give up a club then you could ruff the fourth club as well, but remember that the oppo-nents are going to switch to trumps the moment they

Michael Byrne on Managing Trumps

Cross-Ruffingget the lead.

Let’s back up a little and look at what exactly we did in order to prepare for our cross-ruff.

The first and most impor-tant thing is to cash the side suit winners first.

The reason why we did this is very simple when we look at the full deal:

NW E

S

♠ A 9 5 3

♥ A 10 7 3 2

♦ 4

♣ A 3 2

♠ J ♠ 8 7 6 2

♥ K 9 8 5 4 ♥ Q 6

♦ K Q 10 ♦ J 8 7 5 2

♣ J 9 6 5 ♣ Q 10

♠ K Q 10 4

♥ J

♦ A 9 6 3

♣ K 8 7 4

If you start merrily by win-ning the ♦K lead and ruffing a diamond then ♥A and ruff a heart, ruff another dia-mond, another heart, last diamond and another heart, East will not be sitting idly by. He will take the chance to discard his clubs on the third and fourth rounds of hearts, and when you come to the end of the play and try to take your tenth trick with the ♣A, East will ruff it.

A lot of players think in backwards logic when it


comes to applying this prin-ciple; they are worried about the clubs being ruffed early on so they wait until the end of the hand, hoping the opponents will have wasted their trumps. The threat of a club ruff becomes much more likely towards the end of the hand rather than at the beginning.

The chance of a 3-3 club break is 36% and 4-2 is 48% so you might think the to-tal odds of the ace and king of clubs standing up is 84%, however in the real world it is considerably better than this.

If the clubs do break really badly, you normally find out about it on the opening lead. If West held a singleton club he is likely to lead it, and if East held a small singleton club that could leave West with a strong sequence and again he might have led it.

This act of cashing side suit winners first basically shows us the way we play a cross-ruff, all or nothing. There is no going back once you have started your cross-ruff since you will lack the strength to draw trumps at the end of the play, so when you embark upon your cross-ruff it is impor-tant you can count enough tricks to fulfil your contract.

The second rule of cross-ruffing is to ruff with your little trumps first. If you hold A-J-10-2 facing K-Q-9-3 in the trump suit and your plan needs you to take eight trump tricks, then it will require you to ruff with the little ones and the best time to make them is early on when the opponents are still following suit. One of my first teammates was very nervous about being over-ruffed, consequently he would always ruff the first few rounds of a suit high, then try and make the small

trumps later on. By then of course he would suffer an over-ruff as the opponents had run out of the suit, and he invariably went down in his contracts.

One of the important things to know before at-tempting a cross-ruff is, ‘how many tricks am I aim-ing for?’

This is particularly true when you are playing du-plicate pairs, where declar-ers sometimes get overly obsessed with overtricks. The hand below is basically the most stripped down and basic version of a cross-ruff hand you might face at the table:

NW E

S

♠ A 5 4 3 2

♥ 6

♦ K Q J 8

♣ A Q 2

♠ 6

♥ A 5 4 3 2

♦ A 10 9 7

♣ K 6 3

You have a sensible auction starting 1♥–1♠–2♦ and end up playing in a high-level diamond contract on the lead of the ♠K. How would you play it?

Of course you can’t an-swer without knowing ex-actly how many diamonds you are in, since the num-ber of tricks you are aiming to make determines how many clubs you must cash.

When you embark on a cross-ruff you count your tricks, so counting the (non-club) tricks we see we have two major suit aces and four ruffs in each hand to give you ten certain tricks.

Let’s assume you have bid conservatively to 5♦, now all

you need is one club trick, cash the three aces and be-gin your cross-ruff. Nothing can stop you making your contract on a cross-ruff.

What about if you have attempted a small slam, bidding to 6♦? Again, with eight ruffs and two ma-jor suit aces you have ten tricks, so you need two ex-tra tricks; cash the ace and king of clubs before begin-ning your cross-ruff.

And finally, what if (in the desperate need for a swing) you have attempted a grand slam? In that case you will need all three club tricks to stand up so cash them all (whilst crossing your fin-gers). If everything behaves you make 13 tricks.

Note that it is not the worry that one of your club winners will get ruffed that stops you cashing them all in 5♦ or 6♦, the real worry is that if one gets ruffed the opponents will return a trump, now this will cut down your ruffing power considerably.

Note that if we change the hand then we must be a lit-tle careful:

NW E

S

♠ A 5 4 3 2

♥ 6

♦ K Q J 9

♣ A Q 2

♠ 6

♥ A 5 4 3 2

♦ A 10 5 2

♣ K 6 3

Not only must we obey our first rule of cross-ruffing (always cash the side suit winners first), but also our second rule (to ruff with the little trumps first).

Let’s say we have bid

ambitiously (perhaps you would prefer to use another word) to 7♦ and the oppo-nent mercifully lead the ♣J. We have no choice but to cash three rounds and our first hurdle is surmounted when the clubs break 4-3 and all three rounds stand up. What now?

Since we want to ruff with the ♦5 and the ♦2, first we should cash the ♥A and then the ♠A. Then ruff a spade low, ruff a heart, and ruff the third round of spades low. When that doesn’t get over-ruffed we are home and can claim the rest on a high cross-ruff.

Why all this worry about which hand we end up in? Have a look at the full deal and see if you can spot the problem:

NW E

S

♠ A 5 4 3 2

♥ 6

♦ K Q J 9

♣ A Q 2

♠ J 9 7 ♠ K Q 10 8

♥ K J ♥ Q 10 9 8 7

♦ 8 7 4 3 ♦ 6

♣ J 10 9 8 ♣ 7 5 4

♠ 6

♥ A 5 4 3 2

♦ A 10 5 2

♣ K 6 3

If instead of cashing the ♥A and then the ♠A you cash the ♠A and then the ♥A, you end up in the South hand not the North one. You ruff a heart with the ♦9 and a spade with the ♦2, but when you ruff the next heart with the jack of trumps West discards his last spade, and he is poised to over-ruff your ♦5 later on.

Harsh? Maybe, but good technique is its own reward, and there is no excuse for not making a careful plan when you are in a grand slam. ■


QOur opponents bid a misfit to 4♠, making twelve

tricks. When the evening was over, the analysis sheet indicated that it was possible to make 7♥ or 7♠.

NW E

S

♠ 8 3

♥ Q 10

♦ A J 9 5

♣ Q 10 9 4 2

♠ A K 10 9 6 5 4 ♠ 7 2

♥ 9 8 ♥ A K J 7 2

♦ Void ♦ K 10 7

♣ K J 6 5 ♣ A 7 3

♠ Q J

♥ 6 5 4 3

♦ Q 8 6 4 3 2

♣ 8


1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass

3♣ Pass 3♥ Pass

4♠ All Pass

Can you suggest a bidding sequence to reach a grand slam?Alex Mathers, Northallerton.

A Just because the computer can see a way to make 13

tricks does not mean you want to be in a grand slam.

The computer can see the favourable breaks and the winning line to take advantage of them. The computer tells you what is possible seeing

all four hands, not what is right seeing only two.

Looking only at the East-West cards, there is a distinct possibility of a trump loser in 7♠ for a start. Depending upon the lead, entry considerations may mean playing for a 2-2 trump break, which is only a 40% chance. Even if you can play the trumps normally (finessing on the second round if an honour drops from North on the first round), there is still only a 46% chance of avoiding a loser.

The possibility of a trump loser alone makes a grand slam against the odds whatever the scoring method or vulnerability. Furthermore, you have some slow club losers to contend with. On the actual layout, the fortunate lie of the heart suit means dummy has five heart winners, so there are more than enough discards. If the hearts lay less favourably, you would need some luck in the club suit as well.

A possible auction for East-West to 6♠ is as follows:

West East

1♠ 2♥

4♠1 4NT

5♥2 6♠

End1The jump shows the seven-

card suit and limited values (a

stronger hand rebids 3♠).1Two key cards

On the auction at the table, I disagree with West’s 3♣. It is better to emphasise the seven-card major suit. East’s 3♥ rebid is wrong too. The 2♥ response already showed a five-card suit. Rebidding the hearts promises a six-card suit. East, being too strong to rebid 3NT, should have bid a fourth suit 3♦ over 3♣.

♣♦♥♠

QI have a few questions about the following deal.

NW E

S

Dealer North. N/S Vul.

♠ J 3

♥ A Q 10 8 6 4

♦ J 7 6

♣ 6 5

♠ A K 10 8 ♠ Q 6 5 4 2

♥ 3 2 ♥ J 5

♦ 9 8 4 2 ♦ A K Q 5

♣ 10 4 3 ♣ K 7

♠ 9 7

♥ K 9 7

♦ 10 3

♣ A Q J 9 8 2


Pass1 1♠ 3♣

3♠ All Pass2

1Some would open a weak 2♥.2With a thin trump suit

and devalued clubs, East

did not bid 4♠.

What might have happened

if North had opened a weak two in hearts?

Dare East overcall with such a thin spade suit?

Can East expect West to balance in the last seat?Name and address supplied.

A If North opens a weak two in hearts, East’s options are

2♠ and double. You only pass with a good hand if you have length in the opposing suit, which is not the case here. Holding five spades, I would bid 2♠ despite the poor suit.

West, with only 7 HCP and without a singleton heart, should undoubtedly pass out 2♥ if the bidding did start 2♥-pass-pass.

♣♦♥♠

QA hand from last night bothered me. Please can you

advise on the bidding? I was South on the

following bidding sequence:

North South

1♥ 2♣

3♦ 4NT1

5♣ 5♥

End 1 RKCB

One pair were in 6♥ and one in 7♥.

My partner thought that I was agreeing his second suit ie diamonds.

Julian Pottage Answers your Bridge Questions

Should we Reach a Grand Slam?


I was confused. How could he not have an ace?

Surely he couldn’t not have the ♥K key card,?Margaret Bleakley, Belfast.

A You raise several interesting points. It is a common

agreement that if the partnership has not agreed a suit prior to a 4NT enquiry then the last suit bid naturally counts as the trump suit. Assuming 3♦ is natural in your methods, this makes diamonds the trump suit for key card purposes. If wishing to find out about heart honours, South should bid 3♥ first to agree hearts and then 4NT. Opener’s jump shift rebid has created a game force, so 3♥ is 100% forcing. It sounds as if you should have done that.

You have not said what 5♣ means in your methods. I assume it shows 0 or 3 key cards. In view of North’s previous strong bidding, it must be three (three aces or two aces and the ♦K) rather than none.

Since the partnership has bid hearts naturally, it is reasonable for 5♥ to be natural rather than asking about the ♦Q. The partners seem to have been in agreement about that.

Some people play that a player who gives a 0 or 3 reply or a 1 or 4 reply automatically goes on with the higher number if partner attempts to sign off. I do not like this agreement very much. If you cannot tell whether you are facing 0 or 3, I do not think you should be making a 4NT enquiry at all.

♣♦♥♠

QPlease advise on bidding this deal, where I was East.

NW E

S

♠ J 3

♥ 9 6 5

♦ A Q 10 6 5

♣ 6 3 2

♠ K 8 5 4 ♠ A Q 9 7 6 2

♥ A Q J 2 ♥ K 8 4

♦ 7 ♦ Void

♣ A 9 8 5 ♣ K Q 10 7

♠ 10

♥ 10 7 3

♦ K J 9 8 4 3 2

♣ J 4


1♣ 1♦ 2♠ 3♦

3♥ Pass 4♣ Pass

4NT Pass 5♦1 Pass

6♠ Pass 7♠2 All Pass1One key card2Expecting the ♦A to be the key

card missing

1. With a void, what is East’s correct bid in response to West’s 4NT?

2. Is it better for West to bid 3♠ rather than 3♥? Can West even splinter with 4♦?

3. Rather than 4♣, is it better for East to cue bid 4♦?Mike Clements, Guildford.

A 1. If you do not have any agreement about how to show

a void, you should just give your normal reply. Quite often partner will have the ace facing your void, in which case a void is no better than a singleton.

If you think partner will understand it and you think partner will work out where your void is, you can make a special response. A simple approach is to make the reply a level higher than you would have without the void.

On this particular auction, given that you thought you were playing in clubs, a jump response to 4NT would commit you to a grand slam (unless partner happened to have spade support).

Tournament players

might have an agreement about how to show a void, including a meaning for 5NT.

2. West’s 3♥ ought to deny spade support. 3♠ is forcing if 2♠ was a strong jump shift and a sensible option in that case. It would not be forcing if 2♠ was a fit-showing jump. 4♦ indicating a diamond control/shortage seems a better bet than a less descriptive 4♠.

3. East’s 4♣ was correct. A 4♦ cue bid would sound as if it is agreeing hearts rather than clubs.

♣♦♥♠

Q1. My partner and I open 2♣ on super-strong

hands, but we are unsure what responder should do if the opponents intervene. After 2♣-(2♠), for example, what meanings would you recommend for (a) pass, and (b) double? I believe that one should be junk, and the other should be perhaps one defensive trick, but I don’t know which is which.

2. If I open a weak two (6-10), and partner inquires with 2NT, we like to play feature-showing rebids. However, there is a mild debate over the strength. Partner thinks that both these hands should rebid 3♦:

♠ Q J 9 8 7 5 ♠ A Q 9 8 7 5

♥ 10 7 ♥ 10 7

♦ K 9 4 ♦ K 9 4

♣ 8 5 ♣ 8 5

My own feeling is that the feature should only be shown with the hand on the right. Could you express a viewpoint?

3. Again on weak twos: we currently play a change of suit by responder (eg 2♥-2♠) as

forcing. I am wondering whether we should alter this to constructive but non-forcing. Could you give the pros and cons?Mike Newman, St Saviour, Jersey, Channel Islands.

A 1. Yes it is sensible to play one action is very weak (say 0-3)

and the other as showing some values. It does not matter a lot which way round you play it so I would suggest pass as weaker because it is more natural that way.

2. The 2NT enquiry partly asks whether you are minimum and partly for further description so the first hand should bid just 3♠. A game or slam is more likely when opener is maximum, which is why it is normal for the descriptive bids to show a maximum. Partner might still find out about the diamond feature on the first hand by cue bidding 4♣ over 3♠ because you can cue bid 4♦ in return.

3. In general it is good to play the bids as forcing because this preserves purity in the 2NT response. In my answer to 2, I said that 2♠-2NT-3♠-4♣ is a cue bid. If you play a 3♣ response as non-forcing, you might need that sequence to show or at least include a big hand with clubs.

You could make an exception to change of suit forcing for the specific sequence 2♥-2♠ because a jump to 3♠ is available for strong hands.

♣♦♥♠

QIf partner opens 1♠, why does a response of

2♥ show a five-card or longer heart suit? Berenice Wood,Great Rissington, Glos.


A Playing a 2♥ response to a 1♠ opening as showing

at least five cards facilitates finding both 4-4 and 5-3 heart fits. You will find a 4-4 fit because responder can start with 2♣ or 2♦, after which opener has a comfortable 2♥ rebid. You will find a 5-3 fit because responder starts with 2♥ and opener knows three-card support is adequate.

If the 2♥ response did not promise five, opener would be guessing whether or not to raise on hands with exactly three hearts. You would be bound to miss some 5-3 fits if opener never raised and be bound to play in some 4-3 fits if opener always raised.

♣♦♥♠

QI picked up the hand below as South and opened 1♣, to

which my partner responded 1♦. My partner and I open clubs with 4-4-4-1 and a singleton diamond. What is the correct rebid? Would 1♠ deny a four-card heart suit?

NW E

S

♠ Q 10 7 4

♥ 2

♦ A 9 4 3 2

♣ Q 10 2

♠ A K J 8

♥ 8 5 4 3

♦ 5

♣ A K 8 7

We were playing teams and the other team bid and made 4♠; I do not know how they bid it. Colleen Haffey by email.

AOne way to find the spade fit is to play 1♣-1♦-1♥-1♠

as natural, with a jump to 2♠ required to invoke fourth-suit forcing.

A solution on this particular deal is for opener to exercise judgement and rebid 1♠ rather than 1♥. While this does ostensibly deny a four-card heart suit, deciding to treat A-K-J-x as rather more worth showing than four low is a reasonable thing to do.

♣♦♥♠

QAfter a 1NT (weak) bid from the opposition

and double from me (16+ points), partner bid 2♥.

She meant this as a weakness take-out. I assumed it was strong so it all went wrong.

I am not convinced about the 2♥ weakness take out for two reasons.

1. Partner does not guarantee any hearts for the double so a weakness take-out could mean you are playing in a 5-0 fit.

2. If 2♥ is weak, how do you bid a strong heart hand – looking for game?Bruce Paul by email.

A If one player makes a penalty double, the other player only

removes the double in two situations: (i) with a weak shapely hand, fearing that the opposing contract will make or (ii) with a good shapely hand, expecting the value of a contract your way to exceed the penalty available from defending.

In the particular case of a 1NT opening doubled, partner shows the first hand type with a suit bid at the two level; partner shows the second hand type by jumping to the three level (or possibly by bidding 2NT with a two-suited hand).

Yes, since the double of 1NT does not promise a balanced hand, partner might remove the double to a five-card suit and find a singleton opposite; it would be unlucky to find a void. In any case, the doubler does not have to pass and may have a good suit to show.

♣♦♥♠

QWhat would you have done with these

cards? We play Benji Acol, weak no-trump.

Partner, third in hand, opened 1♣. I held:

♠ K Q

♥ 9 7 6 5 2

♦ 8 7 3

♣ 10 6 3

I passed as did my LHO. Partner had a four-card heart suit: Q-8-4-3. 1♣ scraped home but hearts was our best spot. Should I have bid?Michael Hunt by email.

A Hands with five points are marginal. With some you

respond. With some you pass. Here the king-queen doubleton is not pulling its weight. Then again the presence of a five-card major is a significant factor in favour of bidding.

Responding also makes it that bit harder for the opponents to enter the bidding. Most people rightly require a better hand for a sandwich seat overcall (or double) than they do for taking action in the protective position.

Taking all factors into account, I would bid 1♥.

♣♦♥♠

QHere are two questions on your article on

the Benjamin 2♣ in the October edition of BRIDGE.

1. How does responder show that he has one playing trick (A, K, or three trumps with shortage)?

2. Should I always rebid 2NT after opener shows his suit or can I pass with no prospect of a trick in my hand?David Cree, Strathaven.

A 1. With a weak hand but not a bust, you make a

fast arrival bid, typically jump raising a 2♥ or 2♠ rebid to game. This warns partner you have no interest beyond game.

2. The main reason for keeping the bidding open is in case partner has a two suiter. If you have a partnership agreement not to open 2♣ with a two-suited hand, you could consider passing.

In relation to both 1 and 2 above, it is worth noting that hands with a bare eight tricks do not really need to open with a strong bid. If you need two tricks from partner, you are safe enough opening at the one level. It should therefore be rare that you will go down at the three level after opening a Benji 2♣.

The idea behind a Benji 2♣ opening is to develop a constructive auction towards game or slam, not trying to land on a pinhead when partner is weak. ■

E-mail your questions (including your postal address) for Julian to: [email protected]


NW E

S

1. Dealer South. Love All.

♠ 7 6 ♠ A K 4 3 2

♥ A Q J 6 5 4 3 ♥ Void

♦ 5 ♦ 9 8 7 6

♣ A 5 3 ♣ K 6 4 2


1♥

?

Pass. You have a lovely hand dominated by a long and strong heart suit: your dreams of a fun auction are rather scuppered by South’s opening bid. Although some of you will feel able to bid hearts now, it does not make sense.

2♥ and 3♥ are much more useful as artificial strong bids: it is after all very rare that you have seven cards in a suit opened by the opposition. Also bear in mind that you might not want to play in hearts: South holds five hearts and your partner none.

Your best policy is to pass – you would be happy if 1♥ was passed out. In this case your partner will make a bid if North passes.

NW E

S

2. Dealer North. Love All.

♠ A K J 6 5 ♠ 9

♥ K 4 3 ♥ A 8 6 5

♦ 7 6 ♦ 9 8 2

♣ Q 3 2 ♣ J 9 8 6 5


1NT Pass 2♥1

?1Transfer to spades

Pass. Another nice hand and this time although South has not bid spades, he has implied that he holds five of them. The same considerations from the previous hand hold true here. Do you really want to play in spades if South has five of them (and

North has at least two) and your partner would not take a 2♠ bid as natural, because he will not expect you to want to play in the suit?

What other choice do you have?A double would not suggest your type

of hand. Some play it to show a general strong hand, but the more natural way to play a double of an artificial bid is to show the suit bid (hearts). Without length in hearts, you should pass and await developments.

The chances are, on this hand, that you will end up defending against 2♠, which means you will have your best suit as trumps.

NW E

S


♠ A K 8 7 ♠ 4 2

♥ A 9 8 7 6 ♥ 3 2

♦ A 2 ♦ Q 9 8 7 6

♣ 7 6 ♣ J 4 3 2


1♥ Pass 1♠

?

Pass. This is starting to get annoying. However, the introduction to the quiz did say that your suits were going to be bid. 15 HCP, but both of your suits have been bid by the opponents. Perhaps 1NT is an option?

It seems a reasonable choice, but the problem is that you have little to gain by bidding it. On a good day your partner will have six or seven points and you might scrape five or six tricks together, but more likely is that you might find North with 15+ points in a balanced hand, with which he will double you.

In 1NT doubled you will likely just make the four top tricks in your hand. Your best option is to pass.

These first three hands exhibit a simple guideline on the first round of the auction: if your opponents bid your suit, then usually it is correct to pass on the first round. ■

Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quizzes 1-3

on the Cover and page 7

( 01483 489961www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop

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Distributional Hands

ALSOl Defence (see p44)lDeclarer Play (see p43)l Acol Bidding (see p45)

ADVANCED DECLARER PLAY

l Overtricks in No-trumpsl Overtricks in Suit Contractsl Endplaysl Avoidancel Wrong Contractl Simple Squeezesl Counting the Handl Trump Reductions & Coups l Playing Doubled Contractsl Safety Plays

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£89


There has been a lot to do winding up my father’s affairs – which he had left in fairly

decent order. My brother and sister live nearer where my parents were than I do and have managed to deal with most of the work, thankfully.

Bridgewise, there was the final weekend of the Premier League. Our team did rather splendidly. We were leading Division Two at the beginning of the weekend, and won all four matches on the Saturday quite heavily. We were more than a match ahead at the top of the field when the Sunday started. It didn’t go so well then, but we were still a mathematical certainty to qualify for promotion with two matches to go, and eventually won by more than a match. So next year we will be in Division One.

We also played in the Tollemache (inter-county teams of eight) qualifying round. We were doing OK in this, and it was close with one match to go. We, unusually, were the last table to finish, and when we did we had qualified, but those who had finished earlier had the pleasure of seeing the live scores fluctuate – one minute we were in second place, then in third, then in second, etc.

How high would your bidding judgement propel you on this deal? You are vulnerable against not. The bidding goes:


1♦ 1♥

Pass ?

You, North, hold the following giant:

♠ A 5

♥ A Q J 8 5 4

♦ A 7

♣ A 3 2

Maybe I am just one of the world’s optimists, but I couldn’t imagine partner not having enough to make

slam a reasonable prospect. Although we are often very aggressive non-vulnerable, we usually have reasonable hands to compete when vulnerable. I tried a quiet 2♦ to start with and partner bid 2♥, so I raised him to slam. He had a 3-5-3-2 distribution with kings in spades, hearts and diamonds, so slam made easily enough. Everyone else was pessimistic and stopped short. I think optimists have more fun in life.

As I am sure I have said before, our juniors are doing very well at the moment. All four teams qualified for next year’s world championships, which will therefore be an expensive affair. I have managed, via Andrew Black, to find my U26 girls team sponsorship by Touchlight, a genetic research company. They have found a way to manufacture DNA much more cheaply and quickly than previously which is likely to revolutionise the field. All my team are scientists, so were of particular interest to Touchlight. This means that as well as paying many of the expenses for the world championship itself, there will be more money available to pay for practice.

As part of my general squad activity (with the younger girls as well as the U26 team), a group of us went to play in the Middlesex Congress. The idea was that three youngsters entered as a team and then I found an expert to make up the numbers.

There were two young teams, headed by Martin Jones and Margaret Nygren. They did not, and were not expected to, do well, but it was an excellent experience for them and everyone had a good time. I played with Ewa, Siyu and Laura, three members of the England team. We finished 13th out of 55 which I thought was quite respectable. I was impressed at how well they played.

Here is a lead problem for you (see next column).

My view on these types of auctions is that partner’s double was not based on us taking any spade tricks.

NW E

S

Dealer North. N/S Vul.

♠ Q J 10 9 8 7

♥ 7 6

♦ Q 4 2

♣ J 7


1♣ Pass 1♥

2♠ Pass Pass 3♥

Pass Pass Dbl All Pass

A club lead works best, but a diamond is OK. A spade does not work so well, and after a spade lead our opponents were not careful enough to beat 3♥.

This was the full deal:

NW E

S

♠ A K 4 2

♥ Q J

♦ J 9 3

♣ Q 10 5 2

♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 ♠ 5 3

♥ 7 6 ♥ 10 5 2

♦ Q 4 2 ♦ A K 8 5

♣ J 7 ♣ A K 9 8

♠ 6

♥ A K 9 8 4 3

♦ 10 7 6

♣ 6 4 3

Also this month the EBU saw fit to honour me with their Diamond Award for all round services to bridge. I’m not really sure what I’ve done to deserve it but it was nice, all the same.

On a personal level, the issue that it is going to be ongoing for several months is my teeth.

I’ve been told for the best part of 30 years that my gums are bad, and it seems that the time has come to take it seriously. If I leave it too much longer, then the bone loss may be too severe for implants to work well. So I have given the go-ahead to the implant man. I went for a CT scan of my jaw, which is the first step and am now waiting to hear just how bad the situation is. ■

Catching Up with Sally Brock


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4. Dealer East. Love All.

♠ 7 6 ♠ A Q J 8 2

♥ A 3 2 ♥ K 9 4

♦ A Q J 6 5 ♦ 2

♣ 7 6 5 ♣ A 9 8 2


1♠ 2♦

?

Pass. This time your partner opens the bidding and there is an overcall in your longest suit. With 11 points and plenty to stop the opponent’s suit a 2NT bid seems obvious and you might make 3NT. However, when you have a lovely holding in your opponent’s suit like this, you should have other ambitions.

As you hold five cards and South has five or six cards in diamonds, you can be sure that your partner is short in the suit. What this means is that if the auction comes back round to your partner at 2♦, he will not want to pass. His most likely action will be to double for take-out, which tells you he is short in diamonds and wants you to choose your best suit to compete for the partscore. You will surprise him by choosing to pass his take-out double – you know that your side’s best score is going to come from defending 2♦ doubled.

On this hand 2♦ doubled is likely to be at least three off for +500 (more than a game). Meanwhile 3NT might not make.

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♠ Q J 8 7 6 5 ♠ 10

♥ A 4 ♥ K 8 7 6

♦ 7 6 ♦ A 9 3 2

♣ 5 4 3 ♣ A J 6 2


1♠ Dbl Pass

?

Pass. Once again, your long suit has been bid by the opponents, but this

time your partner has made a take-out double. What can you bid?

Once again it is important to understand that a bid of 2♠ is not natural – your partner is asking you not to bid spades. A 2♠ bid is used as a strong response ask the doubler to pick a suit. That leaves you two choices: 1NT or Pass. Pass would be going against your partner’s wishes and you should only do that if you hope to get 1♠ down. Holding very long spades and with the points divided evenly between the two sides, you are likely to win the battle.

Passing a one-level take-out double is very rare, but with six plus cards in the opponent’s suit and six plus points it should be an option.

The problem with 1NT is that you have just one trick in your hand. Your opponents will win the ♠A at some point and then never lead the suit again – that leaves you stuck in partner’s hand for most of the play and perhaps finishing with just four tricks. In 1♠ doubled, you have four tricks outside spades and should manage four trump tricks for two down.

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♠ 4 3 2 ♠ A K 8 7 6

♥ A J 8 7 6 5 ♥ 2

♦ 9 8 ♦ 6 5 3

♣ K 2 ♣ A 8 7 4


1♥ 1♠ 1NT

?

2♠. Up to this point you were probably starting to think that the answer to every question was going to be pass. However, although you still cannot bid your long suit on this hand, you can support your partner. Remember that you are only looking for one fit and, since your partner has shown five spades (overcall), there is no need to look any further. Furthermore, as has been indicated in all the answers so far, 2♥ would not be regarded as a natural call – it would show a strong hand. 2♠ may well win the auction. ■



BERNARD MAGEE’S

INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD

DECLARER PLAY

Bernard develops your declarer play technique in the course of ten introductory exercises and 120 complete deals.

l Suit Establishment in No-trumps

l Suit Establishment in Suits

l Hold-ups

l Ruffing for Extra Tricks

l Entries in No-trumps

l Delaying Drawing Trumps

l Using the Lead

l Trump Control

l Endplays & Avoidance

l Using the Bidding

MAC or Windows

Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH( 01483 489961

www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop

£76


Where did we go wrong?This month’s deal was sent in by Chris Williams, who wanted advice on how to reach the grand slam, although he scored a top for reaching 6♦:

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♠ A K Q J 7 3 ♠ 6

♥ A 7 ♥ 6 5

♦ K J ♦ A Q 10 6 5

♣ A 5 4 ♣ Q J 10 7 3


1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass

4NT Pass 5♦ Pass

5NT Pass 6♣ Pass

6♦ All Pass

The trouble with opening very strong one-suited hands at the one level is that they don’t get any easier to bid on the next round. Two-suited hands work well to open at the one level, because on the second round you can create a game force by jumping in a new suit. Here, having opened 1♠, West could have continued with 3♠ which these days is considered forcing after a two-level response, but it is unlikely that would have got him any more useful information.

I would have opened 2♣ as West, and East is worth a 3♦ positive. West rebids 3♠ and East introduces his second suit. West gives preference to 4♦ and East raises to 5♦, showing a minimum positive. However, East must have

more than the ♦A for his positive and will have the ♦Q or ♣K as well. That information is enough for West to bid 7♠, expecting the diamond suit to come in for the extra tricks needed.

♣♦♥♠

Slam of the monthThis deal was sent in by Malcolm South of Mapledurham Bridge Club. He and his partner were the only pair to bid a slam:

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♠ A K 8 ♠ 5 4

♥ A 6 3 2 ♥ K 7

♦ A K 8 4 ♦ Q 5 3

♣ 10 2 ♣ K Q J 9 6 4


1♣ Pass

1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass

4NT Pass 5♣ Pass

5♦ Pass 5♥ Pass

6NT All Pass

West showed good appreciation of his excellent controls on this deal. When partner showed one ‘ace’ he asked about the queen of trumps, and found that East held it, along with the king of hearts. That meant that it was safe to bid 6NT rather than 6♣ as each outside suit was known to be double stopped.

No other pair in the club bid a slam at all on the deal. ■

Sally’s Slam Clinic

Sally Brock Looks at Your Slam Bidding

Send your slam hands to [email protected]

BERNARD MAGEE’S


DEFENCE

Bernard develops your defence in the course of ten introductory exercises and 120 complete deals.

l Lead vs No-trump Contracts

l Lead vs Suit Contracts

l Partner of Leader vs No-trump Contracts

l Partner of Leader vs Suit Contracts

l Count Signals

l Attitude Signals

l Discarding

l Defensive Plan

l Stopping Declarer

l Counting the Hand

£76

MAC or Windows




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♠ 7 6 5 ♠ A K 9 4 2

♥ A 9 8 4 3 2 ♥ 6

♦ 10 6 ♦ A K 8 5 2

♣ 4 2 ♣ J 9


1♥ 2♥1 Pass

?1A two-suited hand: spades and a minor

2♠. This time two players have bid your suit: North opened 1♥, naturally, showing four plus cards, but then your partner bid 2♥. You managed to remember (from the first six answers) that an immediate bid in the opponent’s suit is not natural, so you alerted the bid. It shows a two-suited hand: at least five cards in each of two suits, one of which will be spades. Note, that you do not have to play this convention, but this partnership had agreed to play it, often called Michaels cue bid.

Do not be tempted to pass 2♥ – your partner will not be pleased. With three cards in spades you have a simple 2♠ response, happy to play in an eight-card fit. (With no partnership agreement, tra-ditionally, a bid of the opponent’s suit shows a super-strong hand: 20+ points.)

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8. Dealer East. Love All.

♠ 9 8 3 ♠ A 7 2

♥ A Q 9 7 4 3 ♥ 2

♦ J 6 5 ♦ Q 8 4

♣ 2 ♣ A K 9 8 7 6


1♣ 1♥

Pass 1♠ 2♣ Pass

?

Pass. You are in the second round of the auction, so things have changed slightly. Once you have passed on the first round, you can contemplate bidding your suit naturally if you wish: 2♥ would be natural

here. However, you also have to decide whether you want to play in a suit in which you know South has five cards. There will be times with a really solid holding that it might be a reasonable choice: Q-J-10-9-8-7 for example, where you feel the suit will be worthless in clubs, but in hearts you would have four tricks. It is certainly not the case here: your heart suit is relatively ropey. Your partner has freely rebid clubs when he did not have to, so you should expect a good six-card suit at least and therefore you should pass.

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9. Dealer East. N/S Game.

♠ A Q J 5 ♠ 9 6

♥ A Q J 6 ♥ 9 8 2

♦ 9 3 2 ♦ A K 5 4

♣ 7 6 ♣ A Q 5 3


1NT 2♣1

? 1Landy: showing both majors

Double. You were just about to respond Stayman to 1NT in order to find a major suit fit, when South made an overcall of 2♣, which was alerted. 2♣ was explained as Landy, showing a hand with four plus cards in each major.

Now, you are not so interested in playing in the majors and 3NT is a perfectly reasonable choice. However, it depends on how greedy you are. Playing against opponents who bid too much against you, if you can get in the habit of doubling them a few times, you will find they start to keep quiet a bit more.

With you having such powerful holdings in both majors, how do you think they will get on in a major suit contract?

A double of an artificial bid that shows two suits after your side has opened shows all-round strength and often a desire to penalise the opponents: subsequent doubles are for penalties. A look at the vulnerability will tell you that doubling is definitely the right choice. North bids 2♠, but you double again and finish by taking the contract four off for +1100. ■



BERNARD MAGEE’S


ACOL BIDDING

Throughout 200 deals split into ten chapters, Bernard evaluates your bids, praising the correct ones and discussing the wrong ones.

l Opening Bids and Responses

l Slams and Strong Openings

l Support for Partner

l Pre-empting

l Overcalls

l No-trump Openings and Responses

l Opener’s and Responder’s Rebids

l Minors and Misfits

l Doubles

l Competitive Auctions

£66

MAC or Windows




After partner opens the bidding with one of a minor, inverted minor raises reverse the

meaning of a single raise and a jump raise.

In standard Acol (and other standard systems), a single raise – 1♣-2♣ or 1♦-2♦ is weaker than a jump raise – 1♣-3♣ or 1♦-3♦. In standard methods, the single raise shows about 6-9 points and the jump limit raise about 10-12 points. Playing Inverted Minor raises, the single raise is stronger than a jump raise. The single raise is forcing for one round while the jump raise is more pre-emptive in nature.

Hand 1 Hand 2

♠ 7 4 ♠ 7 4

♥ 8 3 2 ♥ A 8 2

♦ K 10 4 2 ♦ K 10 4 2

♣ K J 8 2 ♣ K J 8 2

In standard methods, Hand 1 gives a single raise while Hand 2 gives a jump raise. Playing inverted minors, it is the other way round: Hand 1 gives a jump raise and Hand 2 gives a single raise.

In Acol, four-card support is adequate for the jump raises because the opening bid is natural and (playing a style of preferring to open the major on 4432 hands too strong for 1NT) will often include five cards in the minor.

If you play ‘better minor’, when the opening minor does not promise a four-card suit, then you need five-card support for the jump raise; four-card support is still adequate for the forcing single raise.

What are Inverted Minor Raises?

What are the advantages in playing the single raise as the stronger hand? First, when responder has a good hand, the single raise keeps the bidding lower and gives more space for exploring the best contract. Secondly, when responder has a weak hand, the deal is quite likely to belong to the opponents (who have the major suits); the weak jump raise means that they have to enter the auction at the three level.

The other big advantage to inverted raises is that they offer a convenient way to handle some otherwise unbiddable hands. Because the inverted single raise is forcing, responder can make the bid not just on game invitational hands but on game forcing hands as well.

The range for the inverted single raise is not 10-12 but rather 10+.

Hand 3

♠ K Q 5

♥ 9 2

♦ A K J 7 3

♣ J 4 3

Playing standard methods, what would you respond to a 1♦ opening? There is no good answer, is there? Following the principle of preferring to lie about a minor rather than a major, you would probably respond 2♣ – but this is hardly descriptive. Playing inverted raises, you have an easy raise of 1♦-2♦, showing a decent hand with diamond support, with the possibility of showing your extra strength later.

Are there any downsides to playing inverted raises?If opener has a strong hand and responder is weak, you have less room to explore. Opener cannot make an invitational 2NT rebid when the bidding is already at the three level, following responder’s weak jump raise. With a balanced hand, I suggest you bid on with 18-19 points but not with 17 or fewer. Occasionally you will miss game if responder is maximum for the weak jump raise. If you are playing a strong 1NT opening, this is less of an issue because balanced 15-17 hands would have opened 1NT in the first place.

What does opener rebid after the inverted single raise?Assuming that responder will rarely raise opener’s minor when having a major to show, it is logical for new suits by opener to show stoppers rather than necessarily a second suit. A bid of three of the agreed minor is a weak action, showing a minimum opening hand that would have passed a traditional limit raise.

Any other action by opener below three of the agreed minor is forcing for at least one round. Any action by either player that takes the bidding above three of the agreed minor creates a game force. If you play splinters in other situations (strongly recommended), you will play that a jump in a new suit by opener shows a shortage in the suit bid and slam interest.

Opener Responder

1♦ 2♦ (inverted)

?

Julian Pottage Answers your Frequently Asked Questions




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♠ 4 2 ♠ A 7 5 3

♥ 7 6 ♥ 9 8 3

♦ A K 3 ♦ 7 6 5 4

♣ A Q J 6 5 3 ♣ 9 2


1♣1


2♣. This is a nice and straightforward hand. When your opponents are using an artificial 1♣ system, where 1♣ may show no length in clubs at all, then you can overcall naturally in clubs. North-South are playing a system called Precision, which uses a 1♣ opening bid to show most of their strong hands. South might actually hold a void in clubs.

There is no point making a jump overcall with such a strong hand, most jump bids are reserved for weak hands when the opponents have shown strength already.

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11. Dealer North. N/S Game.

♠ 2 ♠ 9 5 3

♥ 4 3 ♥ A 8 7 6

♦ K Q J 7 6 ♦ 4 3

♣ Q J 10 9 4 ♣ K 8 7 5


2♣1 Pass 2♦2

?1The strongest bid 2Negative

2NT. Both of your suits have been bid by the opponents, but neither of them are natural bids. When your opponents open with a 2♣ bid, they are suggesting great strength, so you have no use for a natural 2NT overcall: you cannot have 20+ points. The most sensible use for a 2NT overcall which is not strong, is to show a distributional hand with two long suits. Generally, the 2NT overcall is reserved for showing both minors.

Bidding aggressively against 2♣ openings can work very well, taking away their bidding space and making the opener’s life very difficult. Of course, sometimes you also find a good contract or perhaps even a sacrifice. Here, your partner would bid clubs in response to your 2NT bid and you find a good fit. Perhaps more importantly, if North tries bidding 3NT your partner will lead a minor suit and the contract will go down.

Finally, if North-South do find their best fit in spades, then 5♣ would make a great sacrifice against 4♠. Two off doubled would be -300 instead of -620 for 4♠ making.

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♠ Q J 6 ♠ K 4 2

♥ Q J 10 9 8 7 ♥ 4

♦ A 7 ♦ J 8 6 5

♣ 4 2 ♣ A 9 8 7 5


1♥

Pass 1NT Pass Pass

?

2♥. Finally, on the last question I am going to allow you to bid your own suit.

You patiently passed on the first round and then you have another turn when 1NT is passed around to you. Your hearts only have nuisance value in defending 1NT: they certainly won’t be led by your partner and you do not have the entries to set them up. However, if hearts were trumps your hand is worth five tricks (excluding spades). Even if South holds five trumps you would feel OK playing in a heart contract. It is worth competing for the hand by bidding 2♥.

Notice that because you passed on the first round your partner should not mistake this for a conventional bid. Note, also the inner strength of your hearts that give you confidence even against a bad break. Eight tricks are likely in 2♥. In 1NT North would have made seven tricks, so that is worth a nice swing. ■

Hand 4 Hand 5 Hand 6

♠ 8 6 4 ♠ 6 4 ♠ 6

♥ A Q 5 ♥ Q J 5 2 ♥ A Q 8 4

♦ A K J 10 ♦ A K J 6 3 ♦ K 10 5 4 2

♣ Q 8 4 ♣ J 4 ♣ A Q 10

With Hand 4, which is balanced, you are thinking of a 3NT contract. It would not be appropriate, however, to commit to a no-trump contract without a spade stopper. You should rebid 2♥, showing a heart stopper. Since 2♥ is the cheapest bid, you do not deny a stopper in another suit.

Hand 5 is a minimum opener. If all partner has is limit raise, you are happy to stop in 3♦. That is what you bid.

Hand 6 looks promising. If partner has extra values and little or nothing wasted in spades, you could be in the slam zone. You should jump to 3♠, showing at least game values and a shortage in spades.

How does opener continue after the weak jump raise? Many hands pass – you need eleven tricks to make game in a minor, which is a lot even with a fit if partner is weak. If you bid a suit at the three level, it shows a stopper in the suit bid and normally denies a stopper in any suit bypassed.

Opener Responder

1♦ 3♦ (inverted)

?

Hand 7 Hand 8 Hand 9

♠ A J 2 ♠ K Q 2 ♠ K Q 2

♥ J 4 ♥ 10 ♥ 10 4

♦ A Q J 8 7 ♦ A Q J 8 7 ♦ A Q J 8 7

♣ Q 10 3 ♣ A Q 4 3 ♣ A Q 3

With Hand 7 you pass. If partner has Hand 1, 3♦ is all you can make.

With Hand 8 you jump to 5♦. You have a strong opener and good shape.

With Hand 9 you bid 3♠. This shows a spade stopper and draws attention to the need for a heart stopper for 3NT.

Is a single raise still strong after an overcall? No – a single raise becomes weak (you cue bid with a good hand). ■


After early snowfalls some of the ski slopes in Kitzbühel were open in November. Although

we’ve had good early season skiing for the past few years, it has mainly been on artificial snow. This is the first season for a while that has started early on real snow. So it would have been rude not to try some of the pistes that had been prepared for me. Later in the afternoon I arrived at the bridge club, exhausted but exhilarated after my first ski of the season.

Towards the end of the session I played a hand in 6NT rather than the obvious 6♠, hoping for a good pairs score. When dummy came down it appeared that 6♠ would make in some comfort, while 6NT was a rather precarious venture – a bit like some of the icy slopes I’d skied earlier in the day.

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♠ 7 6 4 3

♥ K 5 2

♦ 2

♣ A J 7 6 4

♠ J 2 ♠ 10 5

♥ J 10 7 4 ♥ 9 8 6

♦ 10 8 7 6 3 ♦ K J 9 5

♣ 5 2 ♣ K 10 9 3

♠ A K Q 9 8

♥ A Q 3

♦ A Q 4

♣ Q 8

I won the opening heart lead in hand, cashed a top spade to check that I had five spade tricks, and ran the club queen, losing to East’s king. She returned a diamond, which put me to an immediate guess. If the clubs split

3-3 I have my 12 tricks, but a 3-3 split is against the odds (36%), so perhaps I should take the diamond finesse (50%). I knew that I’d been skating

on thin ice by bidding 6NT instead of the more secure six spade contract, and that partner would give me a cold shoulder if I failed to bring the contract home.

It was unfortunate that East had found the best defensive of returning a diamond at this early stage. If she had continued hearts, I could have tested the clubs and fallen back on the diamond finesse if the clubs had failed to behave kindly. While considering this option, I wondered if I could somehow combine my chances in the minor suits.

Without the early diamond lead my chances of making the contract were roughly 36% (3-3 club split) plus 50% of the remaining 64%, a total of 68%.

If I took the immediate diamond finesse my chances would be a simple 50%. But if I rejected the diamond finesse and the clubs failed to split, I could still make the contract on a minor suit squeeze if the hand with long clubs also held the diamond king.

This is marginally less than 50% of the time as the hand with long clubs has fewer vacant spaces for the diamond king. However, the combined chance

of a 3-3 split in clubs plus the squeeze is comfortably over 60%, which is better than the simple 50% chance of the diamond finesse working so I rejected the diamond finesse.

It’s very tempting to now play on clubs to discover if the suit breaks 3-3, but if you do that the contract can no longer be made, as the only entry to the clubs after a squeeze is in the club suit itself. The correct process is to cash all the winners outside clubs, coming down to this position:

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♠ —

♥ —

♦ —

♣ A J 7 6

♠ — ♠ —

♥ — ♥ —

♦ 10 8 7 ♦ K

♣ 5 ♣ 10 9 3

♠ 8

♦ —

♦ Q 4

♣ 8

South leads his last spade and East is squeezed: she must either discard the diamond king, or give up her long club trick. In this case the diamond finesse would also have worked, but the squeeze would have succeeded against either East or West. As partner checked the score in the BridgeMate, he mouthed a silent ‘100%’ and I could feel the atmosphere begin to thaw. ■

Early Season Snowby John Barr

Letter from Overseas


ThursdayA slow start to the day with the exercise regime that I try to do three times a week (some exercises on the floor and 40 minutes or so on my exercise bike). Then I get some work done – assembling eight articles to send off to The Sunday Times. The flat needs a bit of tidying because in the evening it’s Girls’ Night Out. A group of friends come first to my flat for a glass or two of fizz, then we adjourn down the road to the local ‘bring-your-own-own-wine’ Iranian restaurant for lovely flatbreads with dips, followed by mixed kebabs, then back to my place – ostensibly for coffee, but in reality more wine. The last person leaves at one o’clock but we have a really good evening.

FridayUp early, considering. I tidy up the flat a bit and then settle down to a long talk with Briony. It’s a while since we’ve spoken so there’s a lot to say. I shall be seeing her again soon and really looking forward to it. I’m off to China next week, and after the tournament we’re meeting in Sydney for a couple of days shopping and then off to Fiji for Christmas. Can’t wait. In the afternoon Barry and I head off to Willesden to visit Ben and Dana Green and baby Daniel Harvey. He is 12 days old and so cute. I’d forgotten how lovely tiny babies are. All seems good and I am very happy for them. We go back to Barry’s for a quick bowl of soup and then off to the YC for the usual Friday duplicate. We play pretty well and have a decent amount of luck, finishing up with +65 IMPs which would usually be enough to win, but we are only third. Well done to winners, Sarah Bell and Tommy

Garvey. I enjoy this deal where a fairly rare bit of system comes up and means we are the only pair in the room to bid a slam.

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Dealer East. E/W Vul.

♠ 9

♥ A Q 9 7

♦ A Q 7

♣ A J 10 5 3

♠ 2 ♠ K Q 10 5 3

♥ K 10 5 4 ♥ J 6

♦ K 10 9 6 4 ♦ J 8 5 3 2

♣ Q 9 8 ♣ 4

♠ A J 8 7 6 4

♥ 8 3 2

♦ Void

♣ K 7 6 2


Pass 2♠

Pass 2NT Pass 3♣

Pass 3♦ Pass 3♥

Pass 6♣ All Pass

2NT is asking and 3♣ shows a four-card side suit, 3♦ asks and 3♥ shows clubs. Partner decides to let me have a go at slam. West leads a heart and dummy’s queen holds. I now cross-ruff and make all thirteen tricks. Had we bid the grand slam (not very likely), West would have had to lead a trump (even less likely) to beat it.

SaturdayA very lazy morning (after drinking in the YC bar we don’t get to bed until one o’clock). After a late lunch we walk back to my place, and then on to Kensington High Street to buy some food for dinner. A lovely evening in – quite a rare happening – watching Out of Africa.

Seven Daysby Sally Brock

SundayAnother lie-in. Then we go out to Chiswick. First, to the auction rooms to poke around. They have been very much upgraded since we were last there a year or so ago. Lots of posh stuff. After that we go for a short walk in the Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve. This is a lovely little place next to the overground tracks, and the backs of high-rise flats.

We go for lunch at a small Turkish place – perfect, all my favourite things, cooked well, and just the right amount – leaving a warm glow of satisfaction. Then home in front of the TV – the final episode of Howard’s End.

MondayI have an appointment at Hammer-smith Hospital to get someone to look at what might be a mole on the side of my face, near my right ear. The doctor thinks it’s a wart but wanted a second opinion. The hospital isn’t quite where I think it is so I miss the bus stop and end up having to walk quite a way back and am therefore a little late. Never mind, there is a sign up saying they are running an hour late anyway. As expected, the junior doctor I see first thinks it is a benign wart, as does her superior, so I am only there about two minutes. I then have to rush to keep my lunch date: Kitty and Tove are taking me to Mosimann’s for lunch. Quite a treat. I have an excellent meal in good company and catch up on all the gossip. I get a bus back to Westfield and do a bit of shopping, then to Barry’s for a bowl of soup before the evening bridge. Today is ‘First Monday’. Any of my U26 girls squad who can (and want to) make it to the YC for a seven o’clock start


get to play with an expert (usually female) partner. This evening I play with India, who is madly keen and just back in the UK after being at university in Sweden. The bridge goes OK – we finish third (ahead of Barry, which is all that really matters). The hands aren’t specially interesting though there is to be a lesson learnt from this one where I was South:

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Dealer South. E/W Vul.

♠ 8 7 5 3

♥ 7

♦ 10 7 2

♣ A K J 10 4

♠ 4 ♠ K J 10 9 2

♥ Q 10 9 8 6 4 2 ♥ 3

♦ K Q 9 8 6 ♦ A J 5 3

♣ Void ♣ 7 6 3

♠ A Q 6

♥ A K J 5

♦ 4

♣ Q 9 8 5 2


1♣

4♥ All Pass

Obviously I would have liked to double 4♥ with the South hand, but that double is for take-out and partner would not have passed. My 1♣ opening could have been only a doubleton so bidding 5♣ wasn’t so attractive for my partner. Declarer ruffs the club lead and erroneously plays a spade. I win and carry on playing clubs. I keep playing clubs every time I get in and he eventually goes four down. Had he played hearts immediately, all he would have lost is a spade and four trump tricks – down two. When we play the board +400 is exactly average as the other declarers made 5♣. A little more attention by our declarer could have won him a top.

Mind you, 5♣ is not necessarily as easy as all that. When Barry played the board, the bidding was similar, but his partner bid 5♣, knowing of natural clubs opposite.

West led the king of diamonds and continued the suit. What is the inference to be gleaned from West overcalling 4♥ at unfavourable vulnerability on what you know is a

very poor suit? I guess that depends on your opponent. I would have thought he was likely to be 7-5, but Barry thought 7-4 with the ♠K was more likely. With the 3-0 trump break he couldn’t eliminate, and in the ending, he played West to have king doubleton spade and went one down.

TuesdayUp at the crack of dawn to walk home as I have an appointment with my podiatrist at 8.45am (I can feel an ingrowing toenail developing and want it sorted before I go away). I do a bit of Christmas shopping in the afternoon, and in the evening Ben comes over. He occasionally stays over during the week – it saves him a long commute and it is good to see him. I cook a slow-roasted shoulder of lamb which works well. We sit up till quite late talking and drinking some good claret – later Toby, who has been out to dinner with friends, comes back and joins in.

WednesdayI sleep late, woken up by a plumber arriving to sort out the radiators on the ground floor. Then Barry and I go out in the car to visit plumbers’ merchants to buy some taps. (The place we had been recommended has signs up saying ‘Closing down December 23rd’ – two and a half weeks in the future – but are clearly already closed. It turned out it was December 2016.) Then I meet up with Margaret for a quick lunch to swap presents for our daughters. Back home to pack and get myself sorted. Then Toby helps me to the bus to Barry’s with my suitcases (it is easier to get to Heathrow from his place than mine – and I’m off to China/Sydney/Fiji tomorrow). He cooks me a lovely dinner – belly pork slices followed by the baked apples I’d made for yesterday but no-one had room for. Later we pop down to the YC for a drink and to see how our team have done in the Super League – unfortunately they lost to the bottom team in the league, so the whole position has tightened up and we now share the lead with one round to go. And so to bed … and tomorrow the adventure starts. ■

These English made tables offer superb quality and have the genuine Pelissier hinges. Choose from the great value

Club, the Premier or the elegant Royal.

Special Prices for Bridge Club orders of 5 or more.

Order online or by phone www.designsforbridge.co.uk

01483 270 100 SR Designs for Bridge

Unit A1, Send Business Park,Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF

Premier Table, bevelled edges and baize playing surface £199.00

Club Table with traditional green felt playing surface £159.00

Royal Table, elegant surround and baize playing surface £249.00

Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489 961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

These Terms and Conditions are in addition to Fred. Olsen’s standard Terms and Conditions which are available on Fred. Olsen’s website, www.fredolsencruises.com and on request. Both must be read before booking. Information shown is correct at time of going to press (December 2017). Prices are per person, based on standard occupancy of the lead-in room, subject to availability. Prices are capacity controlled and may change at any time. Call for latest prices. Cruise descriptions include optional, chargeable experiences that may be enjoyed independently and/or with optional Fred. Olsen Shore Tours. Shore Tours are subject to availability and service operation. Some ports may be at anchor, intermediate days are at sea. We reserve the right to amend itineraries for operational reasons. The bridge service on these cruises is being provided by bridge directors from Mr Bridge (including Bernard Magee), not Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Oceans Members benefi ts apply, please ask for more details. Reduced solo fares available on selected sailings, on selected grades, ask for details. E&OE.

Prices per person:Room type Price from

Interior Room £1,399

Ocean View Room £1,599

Superior Ocean £1,949View Room

Superior Balcony £2,849

Suite £2,949

Single Room £1,824

Prices are correct at time of going to print, but may change at any time, call for latest prices.

You’ll first navigate a network of Swedish Fjords, passing charming villages and rolling hills en route to the city of Malmö. Infused with a classically Swedish vibe, it’s renowned for its cultural attractions and excellent cuisine.

Continuing on, the island of Gotland awaits your discovery, where in Visby the highlight is surely the well-preserved medieval ruins and old merchants’ houses, hidden within 13th century town walls. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you wander the enchanting, UNESCO-listed streets.

Your memorable experience continues as Balmoral arrives in the vibrant capital Stockholm for an overnight stay, perfectly complemented by the scenic arrival and departure through the Stockholm Archipelago. Have your camera to hand as you pass through this unique network of nearly 30,000 islands and islets.

A relaxing day at sea follows, with space to unwind and an array of facilities to hand, before you arrive into Gothenburg. On the back of some more archipelago cruising, Sweden’s ‘second city’ offers a range of attractions to round off your journey in style.

11 nights from only

£1,399per person

Swedish Waterways & Cities25th September 2018 • 11 nights • Sails from Newcastle • Balmoral • L1831

Hosted by Bernard Magee

A perfect mix of fascinating destinations with plenty of scenic fjord and archipelago cruising – this is a fine example of what a cruise holiday is all about. Alongside calls into Sweden’s attraction-packed capital, Stockholm, and ‘second

city’, Gothenburg, you’ll enjoy a slice of traditional Swedish life in Malmö; and endless island charm among the medieval, UNESCO-listed streets of Visby.

Bernard Magee

FOC411695_FP_L1831_SwedishWaterways _Mr_Bridge_Mag_Ad_W/C_08.01.18_FV.indd 1 10/01/2018 09:38

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